The big move is this coming Saturday. Just 5 more days and we'll be in our own house!

Gray and I packed a lot this weekend, no great surprise there. But we also took time out on Sunday to play a publicity gig at the MOA for Renn Fest. That was a nice break. Gray took a few of us on a private behind the scenes tour at Underwater Adventures so we got to see bunches of sharks, turtles and guitar fish. This morning we were back to packing before heading off to work. We're almost finished with the packing. The end is in sight.

So for Saturday.....

The weather forecast is for a sunny day, high of 81, and low humidity. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they're right. If so, I'll be keeping an eye open for the fluffy bunnies, rainbows and unicorns. Wouldn't that be great!

I'm wanting to get an actual final count of helpers so we can get the right amount of food and such. So if you're planning on stopping by the purple house in the morning, please chime in and let me know if you have a sandwich preference, and if so, what that preference might be. My mom and Gray's dad will be on hand Saturday to make certain we all stay well hydrated (Mom's quite good at that so have some water if she brings you some, K?)

We're meeting at the purple house around 9 AM and then loading, hauling, carrying and such for a couple of hours. I think we'll be at a good point for a lunch break after unloading the truck. I'm wanting to head over to the storage unit after that and move things over to the house. Final cleaning will happen after that, if not Saturday, then Sunday, though most of the big cleaning should already be done.

We're well past the halfway point now. The kitchen, bathroom and bedroom are all but packed with just a few can't-pack-until-the-day-we-actually-move things. Today we're tackling the crafting room. Gray's trains are all packed and moved and he's working on his desk and work table. I've been sorting and packing my sewing, knitting/crocheting, cross-stitch and paper crafting supplies and tools. Boy do I have a lot of crafting things. And yet there are still more crafting things that I'd like to have. So much stuff. And that's not even mentioning all the kitchen gadgets! Or music books!

So why do we tend to accumulate so much stuff? (Totally rhetorical.)

Anyhow, we're plugging away with the packing of our stuff. I'm really hoping to have everything in boxes and ready to go by next Thursday. Then we'll have another day to do some of the cleaning and get groceries for moving day sandwiches, salads and munchies. We pick up the truck early Saturday morning and then it's party, party, party! Woo hoo!!!

So I decided to print out a transparancy of the desired graphics, borrow an overhead projector and project said graphics onto the very blue plywood, trace around the shadows, then paint in all the letters and such. It took almost 2 weeks beginning to end (with 4 days of Convergence in the middle) but the sign is now hanging on the front of the building. Yeah! Julie and Pete are now working on re-painting the sign for the ceramic shop which shoule be up sometime this weekend. Then Julie and I will be painting the very last sign, for the alley side of the building. So it seems for now that I have a little down time from painting. That's good 'cause now I'm into the moving thing full bore.

Gray and I have over half the house boxed up and have started in on the cleaning. We've also taken over the first 3 carloads of boxes to the new house. Laura is letting us bring in boxes early and stack them up in the far corner of the basement. We're hoping to have lots of the smaller stuff moved over before moving day, then we can focus on mostly furniture and stuff from storage.

It's so busy right now, but the end of the move is almost in sight. Can't wait!

So the last big thing to do at the clinic is to get some signs up on the building. I've been waiting to do the signs as the neighborhood anti-grafitti task force is talking about painting a mural around the building (probably train-themed). We were told 2 months ago that the painting would be started in June so I've been biding my time (with a very old sign propped up against the building) and waiting to see what the mural was going to look like. I wanted my signs to complement the color and design of the mural.

After attending the last neighborhood anti-grafitti task force meeting I've found out that the mural will be painted on our building in September or October at the earliest. So I've decided to go ahead and paint my signs then get them up like yesterday.

I'm thinking about getting a couple of 4' X 8' peice of plywood, transferring the design to the plywood, painting and coating it with polyurathane, and then hanging my finished signs on the front and 2 sides of the building. I've designed the image that I want on MS Word and am hoping to figure out how to print out the ever-so-many-pieces-of-paper-that-when-taped-together-will-make-a-4' X 8' sign. I'm thinking of then tracing over the printed design with a tracing wheel (sewing gadget), connecting the dots and then filling the letters in with paint. Once dry, coat them with a couple layers of poly and voila! "instant" sign.

So now I'm wondering if this sounds feasable to other folks and if so, does anyone know how to print out a 4' X 8' sign using 8 1/2 X 11" paper?

Now that the clinic is all moved and there's been time for the dust to settle, Gray and I have decided to kick back and take it easy for awhile.

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Well that was a nice break. Now it's time to figure out something to do with all of our spare time. And all those extra moving boxes on the front porch.

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Eureka! I've got it!! We can have a moving party!!! Doesn't that sound like fun?!? We can invite a bunch of friends over, haul and lift some boxes and furniture, have some beer, soda, water, snacks and then sandwiches at the new place, and generally have a grand time together. Sound like fun? Wanna join us?

Saturday, July 26, 9:30 AM - probably early afternoon.

We'll meet at the big purple house, load up the trailer and cars and hopefully a pick-up and a van, then head over to the new place, 2 miles east, unload and perhaps do it all a second time or else have lunch, whichever seems more appropriate at the time.

(Rain-date: Sunday, July 27, same time and place)

Please let me know if you're able to help so we can plan accordingly.

Here we have a reminder that Riverfolk is performing at two different venues tomorrow. (What was Chas thinking?)

Saturday, June 21
9:00 AM to Noon
St Paul Farmers Market
Fifth and Wall, St. Paul
Stop by and shop for some locally grown produce, flowers, and herbs
while listening to some hand-made music.


Saturday, June 21
8 PM
Riverview Café
38th St and 42nd Ave, Minneapolis
612-722-7234
www.mochaandmusic.com

Riverfolk is soon to be playing out and about and possibly in a neighborhood near you!

Chas and I will be playing at Café Juliahna this coming Saturday

Saturday May 17
7:00 PM
Café Juliahna
879 Smith Ave S
West St. Paul
651-450-7070
www.cafejuliahna.com


Upcoming dates:

May 23-25
Marcon
Columbus OH
Concerts Sat at 1:00 and Sun. at 2:30
www.marcon.org

June 13-15
Duckon
Naperville, Ill
Concert Sun at 2:00
www.duckon.org

Saturday, June 21
9:00 AM
St Paul Farmers Market
Fifth and Wall, St. Paul

Saturday, June 21
8 PM
Riverview Café
38th St and 42nd Ave, Minneapolis
612-722-7234
www.mochaandmusic.com

The painting is all done (almost), the movers have come and gone, things have all been put away in thier new places (almost), quilts and pictures are up on the walls, and now it's time to celebrate!

If you're in the area, please feel free to stop by any time between 1 and 4 PM this coming Sunday, May 18, to see what Graham and I have been up to the past 6 weeks. There will be snacks, beverages, fun and prizes, including gift certificates to Tillie's Bean, the Riverview Cafe and the Riverview Theater.

River Lake Chiropractic
2503 East 38th Street
(5 blocks west of Hiawatha Ave)
Minneapolis, MN 55406

612-721-7195

It was supposed to be raining this morning. Last night C, B and I figured that the fun run/roll/walk at their grandson's school would be canceled due to cold and rainy weather. Riverfolk was scheduled to play for the event. It turned out that it was cool and sunny with a bit of wind blowing, just the kind of day to wear fingerless gloves while playing guitar outside. The school is on the River Road and faces the Mississippi River. At one point I thought about how wonderfully the day was starting out: I was getting to do one of my most favorite activities with one of my most favorite people looking out on one of my most favorite bodies of water. So cool!

After finishing up at the school (and letting our fingers thaw a bit) we headed over to the State Fair grounds for the Living Green Expo. There we gathered all sorts of information, ideas, samples, and cool wooden caterpillars. When we took a lunch break, B and I scoped out a table large enough for the four of us and the two gentlemen who were already occupying it. It turns out that one of them was celebrating his birthday today too!

Did a little bit of grocery shopping on the way home (great meat specials at Cub) and made it home just in time to meet K and K at the front door. After a quick walk of puppies around the block and a chat with the husband who is off with his father to play with trains in Duluth, we headed out for dinner at the Cleveland Wok and then to the Oak Street Theater to watch a documentary on coffee and the politics associated with growing it (Fair Trade issues). It was actually quite interesting.

All in all, a great day.

The Lucky Platter rocks!
(just sayin,)

Do you understand things like SQL? If so, you are absolutely brilliant! No, really. Do you know how I can start the SQL server in XP-home edition? I think I'm really close but still can't quite get to the "start" button. (Damn computer)

*update*
Have now installed MDSE and have started it. Have also restarted the computer. It still isn't recognizing whatever it is that needs to be recognized. I think the next step will be to reinstall the software (when we get back on Monday). It's not there yet but I'm feeling a little more confident.

.....for Graham's house concert and to visit my aunt. Chas, Bonnie, Graham and I hit the road tomorrow to make our way to the balmy southland of Chicago. Here are details for the House Concert:

Who: Graham Leathers
When: Saturday April 26th
What: A House Concert then an open Song Circle
More When: Concerts usually start around 7, I would show up *early* to get seats and snacks. Show up 6:30ish or earlier. If you show up later please use the side door by the driveway. If you are bringing instruments for the music circle PLEASE try to come early for the ease of instrument storage.
Where: Waukegan-Evan and Alyse's house . . . for more specifics and location and facilities Click Here
RSVP - YES please!!!! Bring your friends, as well, just RSVP for both you and them. . . (that way there will be enough chairs setup and also food enough for everyone)

Once the concert is over, the living room is converted into a song circle. Please bring yourself, your instruments, your voice, and your willingness to participate! As usual Evan and Alyse will provide snacks and soda and water, but potluck items are always welcome. Please RSVP here or to lj @ alyse.org - you can also use that address to request more information, address and travel information. To learn more about music events at the house click here

It would be great if you could come and hear my hubby sing. And maybe sing a song or two afterwards.

Drywall: done. Sanding: done. Painting: done. Texturizing: done. Carpets: done. Packing: done. Moving: done. Unpacking: started. Happiness-is-being-in-the-new-clinic-space factor: priceless.

Building shelves: on today's list. Moving computer: also on today's list. (Need to figure out this "It appears that the SQL service is not running. Please ensure that it is running and try again" thing. I really want the just installed program to work on the laptop.)

So how's been your week?

Spring is here and it's time to warm up with a nice cup of tea and company! I'd like to invite you to an Afternoon Tea Party open house that I'm hosting Saturday, April 19. I'll have ALL sorts of teas on hand for you to sample and enjoy throughout afternoon (Simple Graces has 5 new teas for Spring), along with freshly baked scones and other treats. Please stop by anytime between 2 and 6 PM for some tea and conversation.

This will be a social gathering but ..... ( there will also be stuff for sale. )

My address is: 3611 Bloomington Ave S; Minneapolis, MN 55407. I'm in South Minneapolis near Powderhorn Park (south of Lake Street, east of 35W, west of Hiawatha Ave and Cedar Ave.)

I hope you can drop by for some tea and company on Saturday, April 19. I'd love to see you and have a chance to chat.

Mudding often takes longer than one expects. Looks like tomorrow will be strictly a mudding and sanding day. Oh and probably a paint buying day too. Maybe some vacuuming. Wall washing perhaps.

Happy Birthday to ohiblather and katyhh. May you each have the best day of celebration ever!

The walls in the new clinic are now up! musicmutt and I hung the dry wall after dinner. ( Mundane dry wall stuff ) ( Mundane painting stuff ) That sounds like a pretty good Sunday to me!

Riverfolk will be playing at the

Saturday March 29 (this coming Saturday)
The Cardinal Bar
9:00 PM to 12:00 midnight

This is a new venue for acoustic music and will be our first time there.

The Cardinal is located at E 38th St. and Hiawatha Ave, just behind the
light rail station. (and just a few blocks from the new clinic!)

We hope to see you there.

Just home from lunch with Gray's dad. Hamburgers and apple pie were enjoyed. Now to find baseball and hot dogs.....

Gray and the afore mentioned father are back down at the new clinic space. They're building and installing a door and the next wall. (We installed the frame for the first yesterday.) If all goes well, we'll be picking up some drywall tomorrow and installing it tomorrow night.I'm hoping to be painting over the weekend and then moving tables, desks and such over next week. We'll be in the new clinic space within 2 weeks and maybe even a bit sooner!

I'm thinking of having a "Gran Re-opening and Welcome To The New Digs" party and open house in late April or early May. I'm sorta excited about the new location!

My husband is now (finally) officially green! What a relief.

Now to make plans for fishing for Canadian Walleye this summer and Christmas in Winnipeg this winter. Woo Hoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!