Is there any other purpose to white rice?  I have gone through 2 bags in the last 2 weeks.  One bag was used to save a pair of binoculars that didn't survive the hose, and another bag most recently saved our "Tag Reader" which had a close encounter with Axel's mouth.  So far so good.  I'm 2 for 2 on saves.

Man were we lucky to have a weekend of peace and family on Minnesota's North Shore.  With my brother having recently moved to one of our most favorite Minnesota cities, Duluth, it only took us 5 days to go up for a visit.  Three weekend days, three very different kinds of weather (thank you lake-effect), three boys and myself.  Fun, fun, fun.

Axel was in love with the foam made by the raging waterfalls.  He called it "wool."

Yeeeesh!  It seems like forever since I've had something to report.  I haven't been finding anything roadside, haven't forced Jahred into any "builds" lately, but I definitely haven't been idle!  I find myself this month preparing for 2 battles, one on the home-front and one shop-side.

After much peer pressure, I am stepping out of my near 3 year break on the art show circuit.  Only due to the fact that I had a specific request and because it is extremely local, I will be doing an art show, "Lemonade Festival," on June 21st here in Saint Cloud.  Yes, June 21st – when I will be approximately VERY PREGNANT.  I do have volunteers working the booth and doing the set-up, but am undoubtedly required to do the actual sewing myself.  Thus, I have been voraciously consuming "Toddlers and Tiaras" on youtube and using up every square inch of my fabric stash.

On the home-front, I am preparing for a battle of another kind – the crappy sort.  This week I have supplied myself with an arsenal of brand new cloth diapers (sorry...no time to home-make them this time) and a new changing table from Ikea.  I am super excited to own enough diapers to not require daily washing and a changing table that is foldable/portable.  Amazing how wise I am the second time around!

While I am not ready by any means to hit the "lemonade stand" or the "ass end of a newborn" tomorrow, I can guarantee that come August I will have a full Etsy shop, a dry baby, and a glass of wine in my hand.

When you're known for things that are "perfectly imperfect" and for making chic home decor out of road-side garbage, every once-in-a-while something shows up at your house that even I can't put a name to.  That's what happened earlier this week when after a run, my husband brought home the following.  (See pictured below.)

Immediately I tagged it as art, saving it from the trash, but exactly what it is I'm still not sure of.  A flame?  Something interpretive?  Really, it's a nice piece of wood.

Upon further investigation (turning it over to see if there's a signature...I do watch Antique Roadshow from time to time) I discovered that there is indeed a signature, or rather a name written in pen, non-script handwriting.  The name reads "Richard Mittelstadt."

Of course I googled the man and came up with this: CLICK HERE.  He is indeed an artist, from Minnesota, but he is a watercolor artist and his bio mentions nothing about a discarded career in sculpture.

All I can conclude is that he may have "owned" this piece rather than "created" it.  Also, that there could be another Richard Mittelstadt here in Minnesota that likes to write his name, in kindergarten letters, on the bottom of pieces of wood.  Both equally as possible.

Are you there Richard?  Can you shed some light on this 4ft mystery?