In Memory of Jake Logue

My son, Seth, lost a dear friend last night. You may read the article in our local paper here: http://www.timesnews.net/article.php?id=9016239 Seth and Jake were not only friends, but teammates, coworkers in their first jobs together, and classmates. Last night, when I met Seth at home (I didn't go to the football game because I had to work), we sat around listening to him tell stories of Jake. I didn't know Jake like I know some of Seth's other friends. Seth and Jake became really close this summer with work and football. The "Jake" in this picture is the Jake I wish I could have known. I would have like to have seen the Coach Carter impression. The Jake in the stories Seth told last night. I know Jake holds a dear place in everyone's heart and will be greatly missed. And although I can't see it now, I know there is a reason for this tragedy. A purpose...

Some posts left by friends on Jake's Facebook page:

• have fun playing football with the angels:)
• you were a great guy and still are hope you having a good time with Jesus
• You're the man. Have a good time kickin it with Jesus. I'll see u again one day. Love you man
• jake u were a great guy and a great leader..we will miss u man

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Defense rules at Big Eight Conference Jamboree - Kingsport Times-News Online

Defense rules at Big Eight Conference Jamboree
Kingsport Times-News Online

My son, Seth catches an amazing pass from Aaron St. Clair. Seth is in the local newspaper (that is him catching the ball in the end zone for a touchdown in the photo). SSHS has a great write up. Clint Phillips also had a great showing of his football skills. Go Rebels!

Posted using ShareThis

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Family Fun in Snowshoe, WV

This is what we did after the festival... Walked around. Took pictures. Played air guitar. Saw three deer grazing. Posed for pictures. Watched the sunset.










See more photos on our Flickr page: http://www.flickr.com/photos/talinaripper/

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Our Setup at Snowshoe

We are still at Snowshoe as I type this. We are meeting some new friends Erin and Chuck Ball for lunch. See his work at http://www.infinitrekarts.com/ We had a poor show here at the Food, Wine and Jazz Festival. It makes me rethink the "one show a month" idea that Michael and I had. With expenses such as the show fee, our drive up, and our stay, our income from the show has us breaking even, barely... Well, not really if you consider our time invested in preparation and being away from the studio/gallery. I am trying to be positive and look at it as a free family weekend getaway.

This show, after the Blue Plum in July, reinforces the thought that when mixing food, drink, and music, the outcome for the artist (financially) is poor. Are people attending these festivals really looking to spend their money on art? That question alone makes me think that we need to focus on ART Festivals. Those shows that focus on art. We need to work on getting into juried shows next year. We have some promising shows for the fall. Creeping toward the holiday season and gift buying, sales can only get better, right?

Here are show pictures:

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Weekend Plans

We are going to Snowshoe, WV for the weekend. Actually, this post is scheduled for Saturday, where we will be showing Michael's cutting boards at their Food, Wine & Jazz Festival! We are looking to the weekend, as it is a getaway of sorts. Quinn and Aaron will be going with us. I look forward to some tranquil time in the mountains and sun by the pool. I will post some of my own pictures when we get back. Hope you are having a good weekend too!

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Proud Mama

Seth is going into his Senior year of high school. I am so very proud of him. These photos were posted by Samantha Smith on Facebook. That is where I snatched them, so that I could brag. I am so looking forward to football season this year! Go Rebels! Seth will be playing as a receiver and corner (at least :I think: those are the positions. I love to watch my boys play sports, I don't claim to be a sports fan... just a fan of my boys, tee, hee).

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Fun Fest Balloon Glow 2009

This was Michael's first Fun Fest. This turned out to be his favorite event. I must admit, I love it too. Quinn was amazed, until they started the fire blowing.... Okay, forgive me, I don't know the "proper" term in ballooning. It was loud, and Quinn did NOT like it. Even today, he saw these pictures on my computer, and he held his ears. Poor little guy. He loves to see them from a distance, or in the air, but not up close where they are too loud. Enjoy our family picks below. I haven't been able to do a "personal" post in a bit, the business has been busy. I guess that is a good thing!

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Loft Online!

Urban Synergy has been doing some updating and marketing for their Sterchi's Lofts. This is where we live. As a family, we have had fun looking through the pictures on the web site finding "our sink" or "our bedroom." They have even posted a video on YouTube. We've had just as much fun watching it and pointing things out.

We wanted to share with you! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kADCc4J0yQ

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Biking with Baby

I don't even own a bike yet, but I am already shopping for baby seats. I can't go riding without Quinn, so I have to consider having him in tow before buying a bike myself. I am considering the iBert, Topeak's BabySeat, and the type my sister has WeeRide Kangaroo. All three are mounted differently. The iBert is mounted essentially to the handlebar. From what I can tell (see and read), it will turn when you turn the handlebar. The web site has a video you can watch. What I like about it is the height, Quinn could see really well. The BabySeat by Topeak is a rear-mounted seat. Again, from what I have read, there is complaints of the rear-mounted seats making your bike harder to balance. I don't know that I like the thought of Quinn behind me where I can't see him. Lastly, the Kangaroo has my favorite mount. It mounts to the center bar of your bike, therefore, it will not turn with you as the iBert does. Some complaints of this mount, though, is that your knees hit the carrier while pedaling. I am not tall, short actually, and I don't know that this will be a problem for me. What I do not like is the height of the seat (it sits low) and the padded thing-y that seems to impeed the view for the child. I wonder if it is a mandatory part of installation. Why is it there anyway? If the child is secure in the harness, I wouldn't think you would need to protect them from the handlebars. Crazy. Makes me wonder if Michael could BUILD me something... lol.

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Sneak Peek at the Loft

We have been in almost two weeks now. It is so hard to believe. It has been a whirlwind, a flurry of activity, a ... okay, no more cliches. Let me just say that, running the gallery, filling orders from our Etsy shop, Michael getting studio time, taking care of Quinn, visiting daycares/preschools, working my "nurse" job full time, etc., has made it VERY difficult to get settled. We have continuously had workers in the loft as well, after we moved in, for problems with the master shower, both with the tile and the plumbing, building custom storage doors, painting, hanging mirrors, moving towel rods, hanging glass in the second bathroom, cleaning windows, etc., and that has left the loft a mess--a dusty, dirty MESS! We had the "final" walk-through today, more issues were addressed, so I don't think that the dusty work-boot-prints across the hardwood floors are going anywhere... BUT, Urban Synergy has been fantastic to work with! John, Angela, Stephen, and John Z., have done their absolute best to pull it all together (oops, another cliche) and make things just right for us. It is amazing... They are amazing. The loft is amazing. Obviously, thoughwe will be relieved when things are truly FINISHED throughout the building, so we can have a clean, relaxing home, a block away from the studio/gallery, and not be woke up every morning at 0700 to construction noise. I will show you one photo. A sneak peek at the kitchen, still a work in progress (as we still are missing our island), and mind you, you can't see the boxes on the floor or paintings leaning against the wall due to selective cropping of the photo. By the way, photography hanging above sink is by a fellow Etsian, Everyday Eros.

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Summer Celebrations

Today marks the beginning of Fun Fest in Kingsport, TN. I actually took a week's vacation from my "nurse" job to spend Fun Fest with my/our boys. Although we will still have the gallery to run, we can enjoy some of the events of Fun Fest. Last weekend, we celebrated the Fourth of July in Downtown Kingsport. Below are some photos. Don't you just LOVE Summer? We do!

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Do You Wear Your Baby?

This is excellent information for new, or fairly new, mommies! From bronwenhandcrafted.etsy.com:

Babywearing is an ancient idea that is still practiced around the world. Most cultures acknowledge that the most comfortable, safe, natural place for a new baby to be is snuggled next to its mother. Here the warmth and noises of the womb continue. Snuggled up high, a baby has a great view of the world, more opportunities to interact with people, and much more ability to communicate. This actually leads to happier babies. Babies who are carried in this fashion are much less fussy. It can be the only thing that comforts some colicky babies. Wearing your baby, as opposed to carrying your baby, gives you back the use of your hands for your daily activities. It also saves strain on your arms and back. Slings and other baby carriers are much more portable and easy to store than strollers and plastic seat style infant carriers. Dr. Sears, a renowned baby expert believes that babywearing has 5 main benefits: 1. Sling babies cry less. 2. Sling babies learn more. 3. Sling babies are more organized. 4. Sling babies get humanized sooner. 5. Sling babies are smarter.

Michael got a ring sling for me (and Quinn) at Christmas. I love it! I kick myself for not using it more often! I wanted to share with you the Etsy seller who we have purchased from: Bronwen Handcrafted. Go straight to their web site here and they have great wearing instructions here. I have this ring sling. The picture here of me and Quinn doesn't do the ring sling justice, but it is the only photo I have. I was walking with Michael and the boys while they played Frisbee golf. Consider this handmade gift for a mom-to-be!

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Where is Your Sense of Humor?

Okay, I figure some of you on facebook will recognize this web site, http://www.faceinhole.com/ It is terribly addicting, especially if you love photos! You can put your face, or any one's face you have a photo of, onto any body in any scenario, without having to spend hours in photoshop! It is a time waster for sure, but so much fun! My favorite thus far, Jacob as Luke Skywalker. Check it out if you have a few minutes (or hours) to spare.

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What is Wormy Maple?

Tuesday night, we attended the annual picnic at Maple Tree Glass Studio for our chapter of TACA (Tennessee Association of Craft Artists). Upon overhearing conversation among Michael and some of the other woodworkers, I was confused. I always understood "wormy" maple to be maple wood with markings left from some worm... I knew it was also sometimes called ambrosia maple. What was curious to me, is that last night I found out that is isn't worms at all that cause these markings, it is the ambrosia beetle. ( <--Warning: I don't like pictures of bugs, if you don't either, don't check this Wikipedia link)

Worm holes left from a beetle??? Even more confused, I began searching the web this morning. I found this from a site www.justthedoors.com "wormy maple aka ambrosia maple, this comes from regular soft maple trees that have been infested by the ambrosia beetle. The small beetle bores a network of tunnels and short galleries called cradles. A fungus is responsible for the black and gray streaks that accompany each tunnel and adjacent wood. The streaks add a unique look to this hardwood without affecting its structural integrity. This wood is mostly found in the central part of Eastern United States."

Still scouring the web to find more information, lastly, I found this: http://www.appalachianwood.org/species/species.htm which says NOTHING about ambrosia maple, but I like how it broke up the native Appalachian hardwoods, and it is a very informative site! Stay tuned... As I find more interesting information, I will pass it on. To check out our newest ambrosia maple cutting board, go to our Etsy shop, http://ripperarts.etsy.com

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Celebrating Our Anniversary in Asheville

An overnight trip. Our first time away from Quinn. See more photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/talinaann

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Celebrating Father's Day

These are a few pictures I snapped of Quinn and Michael on Father's Day:




So goes a photo shoot with an uncooperative 16 month old. He's cute, though, nonetheless, don't you think? Well, of course, I think they are BOTH cute!

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It's a Surprise

Tomorrow is not only Father's Day, but it is the Summer Solstice. What that means, is that it is also our anniversary! So, Happy Father's Day, baby... AND Happy Anniversary! I am taking Michael to some unknown place (unknown to him) for a night and two days together. We've never left Quinn like this, so it will be hard. But, it is also much needed for us, both of us personally and relationally. We need this time alone together. I can't wait! And it is KILLING Michael that he doesn't know what we are doing... Tee, hee... I love it! I love him! So, I will schedule a blog post for Monday. Maybe Tuesday I can blog about our trip to {HA!} I bet Michael was hoping I'd slip. Have a great weekend everyone!

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2009 Baseball Season

Well, it's officially over. The Cardinals made it to the championship game. The Cardinals beat the Braves Thursday night, but because the Braves were undefeated, the Cardinals were going to have to beat them twice. The game was last night, and unfortunately Aaron and Jacob's team (the Cardinals) lost. Hey, second place isn't bad! Aaron and Jacob had a fun season, and both of them improved in their skills tremendously. I am so proud of them! Next year, Aaron is off to little league, and Jacob will play one more year in the pitching machine league. Here are some pictures:

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