Back to Work

Vacation is over and we're back to work. We just finished two art shows over the past three weeks, and we're getting ready for tne next three exhibitions. It's interesting how we've been able to create our art, and have the opportunity to share it with so many of you.

Three weeks ago we were at Art Under the Elms in Lewiston, Idaho, and last weekend we were at the Mother's day show in Spokane, Washington.

The show in Lewiston is on the Lewis and Clark College; it's a gorgeous setting in the lawn beneath the trees. The quality of work was excellent and we saw some new work that I had not seen in other places before. That's a great benefit Mackie and I get from traveling around the country. We get to meet great people and see things that most people never get the opportunity to share.

We've been doing the Spokane show for the past three years. It's an opportunity to share good times with other artists that we havn't seen for awhile and it ties in nicely with Mackie's birthday. We had a bbq in the college parking lot with fellow artists Doug and Judy Marco, but mother's day breakfast in Pasco, Washington was the real hoot.

Both of our families have a camper on the back of our trucks and we pull enclosed trailers. We had spent the night in the Wal-Mart parking lot and had dinner at a restaurant close by. We decided to meet for breakfast to celebrate mother's day with our wives. The next morning we got to Cousin's Restaurant about 15 minutes before it was open. Two cars pulled up and eight people got out that looked like they hadn't slept in a few days. After a few minutes they all started walking towards us. One of them asked, "have you guys camped out to eat her this morning"? I replied, "absolutely". Needless to say we had a hoot with them.

It's another great experience that Mackie and I have shared over the years with the art shows and our friends.

Clifton Mill

During our trip we stopped at Clifton Mill in beautiful Clifton, Ohio (http://www.cliftonmill.com/). Interesting that the town and mill is the same as our last name. Interesting indeed. This is a beautiful landmark that includes a restaurant and one of the largest Santa Claus collections in the area. There are over 3,000 Santas in a reproduction service station across the parking lot.

But, let's talk about the breakfast. It was soooo good! The biscuits and apple butter were incredible, and the hot cakes just melted in your mouth. The bacon, the sausage, it was all great!

Visit the website above to see more about Clifton Mill!

Sparky In the Snow

Sparky is buried in the snow just to the lower right of the bush in the center. He was adopted during the First City Arts Faire at Oregon City. That was a great show and we were disappointed when they quit having the show.

Sparky is a true testament that our work is made for the outdoors but just as comfortable inside. Please check our show schedule at www.cliftonmetalworks.com to see when we'll be at a show near you!

Metropolis Illonois

Well I may be out of time sync on our trip but who cares.

Metropolis, Illinois (the home of Superman - so they claim) was our next stop from St. Louis. Mackie is standing next to Superman behind the court house. The Superman museum is just across the street and has a number of trinkets for sale. Unfortunately, they don't have a penny smooshing machine.

We parked across the street from Superman and a guy walked up when we got there and said, "thank you for stopping in Metropolis." This was one of the friendliest citys that we visited on this trip and one that we'll go back to during the annual Superman festival - see http://www.metropolischamber.com/ .



The city is on the Ohio River where the Tennessee River flows into it.

We're Back!

Ok already. Mackie and I have made it back from St. Louis. We're actually in full swing with the art shows, and I'm sure I can come up with a few more excuses why I've been in remiss. Oh the stories I could tell.

Our vacation was interesting. We had the opportunity to visit with our daugter in St. Louis, visit friends in Douglasville, Georgia, and visit with my brother's family in Troy, Ohio. Along the way we ate at two different Cracker Barrell's and two Waffle House's (I'm not sure if there is a correlation here), and had Martin's Chicken and biskits for breakfast one morning. Whew. And all that in seven days!

There were many things to see, but the big chicken in Marietta, Georgia was one of my favorite. Kentucky Fried Chicken (no endorsements from me as I'm a Popeye's Chicken fan) had it built way back. I understand KFC was going to remove it at one time, and the community were up and arms. KFC backed down and it stands as one of the remaining roadside attractions from days long gone.

On the leg of our trip from St. Louis to Douglasville, we got stopped on the interstate between Nashville and Murfreesboro, Tennesse. A tornado had touched down and crossed the freeway leaving a torn open truck and what looked to be an endless supply of firewood. I was very impressed with how quickly the Tennessee department of transportation re-opened the interstate - we were moving in about an hour! Hats off to those folks.

More to come later...