Arts In the Heart

Arts in the heart turned out to be one of the most redeeming qualities about Augusta.



We purchased our buttons not really knowing what to expect, and were pleasantly surprised by the amount of cultures represented.



Booths lined the streets with food labeled by country, region, or race. Korey and I seized the opportunity to try things we had never eaten before. We went to each booth and asked, "If I can only buy one thing, what should I buy?" The Northern Indian food and Brazilian food were my favorite, although I can't honestly say what it is we consumed.



And then I attempted to eat the pigs foot...not the best decision I've ever made, but what can I say? I was experiencing culture, and at least now I can honestly say I don't like it.



People from all walks of life were out and about



and performers filled the streets, waiting their turn to take the stage or mingling after their part of the show. Performances varied from ancient traditional instruments to a tap dancing group who danced to "Rocky Top."





There was even a tai chi demonstration.



It was amazing to see all of the talent. This older gentleman was my favorite. He was apart of the tai chi demonstration. He sure knew his way around a red fan and I'm pretty sure he can lung deeper and faster than I can.



Other forms of talent were scattered around the festival. There were long rows of handmade jewelry, paintings, drawings, and art work in all shapes and sizes.  This man made pottery and grew crystals in the glaze by controlling the temperature of the kiln during firing and adding metals to create the different colors. I was fascinated. I do love a practical chemist.





Korey bought some folk art for our yard. Sunflowers are my favorite, so of course I love it. We had so much fun the first day, we even talked Wendy into joining us on the second day of the festival.



We love Wendy. She has a warm and sunny disposition. She hardly says a negative thing about anyone and honestly tries to find redeemable qualities in everyone. Wendy is also in dental school and we are in the same class. The new clinic is pictured below, all 5 beautiful stories of it.



The grand opening ceremony was last friday, although the clinic has been operational since August. The programs doubled as fans to help fan the heat while we listened to the president of the university, the governor, and other esteemed guests give their speeches.


As you can see, Dean Drisko is incredibly excited about the new building. Here she is giving "props" to her husband, Dick.



I've never been in a more beautiful clinic. The waiting rooms are spacious with beautiful views.



The pediatric waiting room even has a play room complete with video games along the wall of it.



Artwork is sprinkled throughout the building with this giant chandelier as the main attraction. Most say it looks like a jelly fish or a brain. It is a mosaic made of tiny shards of clear and blue glass. So the dental school is embracing local art as well. I like to think it's a Dali like impression of melting teeth, but who knows what it's supposed to be. All I know is that it's a beautiful place to see patients and I'm so grateful that I got to be apart of this little piece of history.

Summer In Review

Just to catch you up on my life. This is what I did this summer.

My sweet little baby puppy has grown in leaps and bounds.





She has learned to swim with her paws under the water.



And is now surpassed Clover in the art of fetching, even though she still lets Clover bring it back part way, before attacking her and bringing it on home.



My sweet husband won 2nd and 3rd place in Business Law and Marketing in the state competition and even got to compete nationally in Orlando.



We went kayaking twice.

Korey even brought his mustache along for the ride.

And I and some friends attempted to float down the river.

We saw my college roommate get married and caught up with other friends from college.

I harvested exactly one batch of tomatoes, but they all died when we went home for a couple weeks so I could take my boards.



And I harvested exactly 1 cucumber before Ginger discovered the wonder of home grown foods and the cucumber vine died a violent death by chewing.



We took a spontaneous road trip for Independence Day and looked for historical markers.





I chopped off my hair and sent it to Locks of Love and managed to not be stuck with a terrible hair cut afterward.



We attended Cousin Courtney's wedding. Everything was gorgeous including the beautiful bride.





I've gotten to see my pawpaw more and I love that I have been able to spend more time with him lately.



We've officially moved into the new school. This is the incredible giant mosaic artwork chandelier in the lobby.


This is the only picture I took from the official boards afterparty. It was a lot of fun, but was certainly not as fun as Fogo de Choa with miss Tracey.



We've started trying to coupon which has been hit or miss, but I'm learning and we're saving. Buying the paper definitely has its perks in the sense that we saw the advertisement for Arts in the Heart of Augusta.



I'll have to write about that next time, so this post isn't miles long.
Did I mention my husband is now a Hull Scholar? I always knew he was a smarty pants.





Did I mention that I slaved studying for months and then I passed a National Dental Board Part 1?... :) Minor details. I have very sweet friends and they all made sure I felt very special and rewarded. I even had an unexpected spa day and a certain sweet friend of mine, Katie, had these beautiful flowers delivered to my house. Sunflowers and daisies are my favorite.



And after all that....I am dog tired.

The Setting of the Summer Sun

And so it is, just like it should be, the changing of the seasons. I look back and the last post I wrote also happened to be at the beginning of the seasons.

It was a hard summer. A hot, long summer. A blur really. And now it's over. September hit like a hammer. One day it was all muggy hotness and now a cool....er.....cooler breeze blows in the evening and the temperature is bearable ergo our power bill no longer makes me want to cry. (Korey hides the scary bills from me for this very reason.)

For a little while I felt that I had run out of words, but here they are, just where I left them at the beginning of the spring. So I guess I'll pick up where I left off. I feel like the traditional summer break was skipped altogether, and yet, somehow September always marches in with the inkling to sharpen pencils (AKA click click click on a mechanical pencil because I'm sure you know that dull lead and lactose are two things I just don't tolerate.)

I did manage to take a few pictures and have a little fun. I'll post them up next. For now, I am simply thankful to have the desire to write again. Write anything really. Even a post about nothing. I'm getting back in the swing folks.

I can feel myself coming back to life.