Pola-Czesky Days!! - August 6th, 2008 · 20 hours ago
AROUND THE STUDIO,... So I must come clean,... even though I promised a new painting by the next blog, I have been unsuccessful to complete the next one yet!! No excuses,... just too much family activity going on. This is when one must be flexible and just enjoy what God put’s into my path each day, and try not to fret too much about the paintings that aren’t getting completed. 
I know all things will come in good time. Stay posted. We were happy to entertain another group of Red Hat Ladies last week in the Studio, thanks for stopping by – what a fun bunch!!
COW TALES AND FARM NEWS,... third crop hay is being chopped as I write this. We won’t have much tonnage though,... it has been dry, very dry. The cows don’t like such hot weather either, the bulk tank stick shows it!! But then, we can’t complain – some farmers have been hailed out, drown out or are dryer than we are. So, we keep the faith that 
things will turn out ok.
FAMILY MATTERS,... lots to report in this department. We spent the entire weekend celebrating our famous Silver Lake Pola-Czesky days! What fun!! Small town celebrations are the best, and it’s a chance for the community to come together and share good times. Our oldest daughter Amanda wrapped up her reign as Princess, we are pictured here with her at the Saturday night Queen’s Ball. It was a perfect 75 degree evening with a sky full of stars and fireworks at 10pm too! Jacob and Zachary both did well in the Pedal Pull, 
no trophies but they had fun trying. Also pictured here are Heather, Sara and Amanda, on Sunday, their last day of the official reigning court of Silver Lake Pola-czesky Royalty – a job well done girls – we are all so proud of you. And folks, no where but Silver Lake, MN during our famous Pola-czesky Days can you see a finer competition of TOILET BOWL RACING! I am the proud wife of the CHAMPION Toilet Bowl racer John Mohr and his partner (and engineer of this fine machine I might add) Steve Dennison! Great job fellas! Katelyn is busy getting the show box in order for the fair next week, and is wrapping up her job at the sheep farm to make time for the fairs coming up. Taylor will arrive back home today, after her week at gymnastics camp.
Thank you for all the visitors that have stopped by the studio!! We hope to see many of you at the MN State Fair, August 21-September 1st.
Thanks for reading, have a wonderful summer day!
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The new sidewalk,... July 21st, 2008 · 15 days ago
AROUND THE STUDIO,... I promise, promise, promise to have a new painting to show you next week. The delay and anticipation of new work – awaiting completion and yet to be created, is making me crazy! But – when duty calls, I beckon! Me and my tired little mini-van just keeps chasing up and down the road to baseball games, gymnastics, Dr. appointments, and whatever else is penciled on the calender each day. Every summer I begin with a long list of the many paintings I hope to complete, and by this time each year, I seem to be failing my self-scheduled-schedule! I am committed though, and know that just as soon as possible I will get some new paintings completed!
COW TALES AND FARM NEWS,... there is never a busier time on the farm than summer. Second crop hay is finished, the road ditches are being baled, 
the wheat harvest will probably begin this week, the cows are busy swatting a record fly crop and struggling to maintain high milk production, the first new crop potatoes were enjoyed at our dinner table last night, the corn is tasseling this week, and thankfully – we have been getting just enough rain to keep things fairly green!
FAMILY MATTERS,... work is just about complete on the front sidewalk of our house. The team was John, myself, and our two friends Cory and Scott!! We leveled and laid a Pennsylvania Blue 
Flagstone walk in the center and lined the outside with soldier course pavers. It is beautiful and we will continue to work through the summer on the remaining landscaping to be done. We were also the host sight of the July 4-H Meeting this past Monday. It is the annual project night, when all 4-Her’s bring one project to ‘show and tell’ about, which will be 
going to the County Fair. The evening wrapped up with a bonfire and hot dog roast!
Thanks for reading – I wish each of you a continued safe and fun summer!
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picking strawberries,... July 9th, 2008 · 29 days ago
IN THE STUDIO,... In all honesty, I just haven’t been in the studio enough this past week to complete the next new painting. Perhaps I should be more discreet about it, but I’ve always believe that honesty is the best policy, thus – nothing new to show today!! We have some interesting things going on though and will have some fun news to share in the next few weeks! We’re also busy with inventorying and starting to 
get ready for the MN State Fair – can’t believe how fast this summer is going!!
COW TALES AND FARM NEWS,... Pictured today is one of our landscaping projects that we’ve been working on. We’ve finished this area, other than we’re waiting on the new farm/studio sign to arrive and it will be hung between the two stone columns. Next item on the agenda is the patio in the back yard. We hope to get to it this weekend! It’s getting dry here in MN, although the crops look remarkable. John will start cutting second crop hay today or tomorrow. 
The kids are starting to work with the cows and are thinking about county fair,... only 1 month away! And what would summer be without strawberries!! We arrived early last Saturday morning to Kathleen’s Garden and picked strawberries for a couple of hours!! They were delicious and we even froze a few.
FAMILY MATTERS,... there are certain everyday basics that we adhere to around our house,... like everyone helps clear the table (or counter) after meals, everyone helps with chores- indoor and out, hang up your towels, coats, etc., etc. In the 25 years that we have been married, we’ve also become fixed on the Sunday morning church hour as a family unit. I want to share this with you, because it is such a good thing. There are so many reasons why people don’t get to church on Sunday morning, and I would say, that if so inclined, these reasons could get in everyone’s way if allowed, including ours,... too busy, too tired, too hot, too cold, too sleepy, have to work, etc., etc. To date, I have not come up with a more reliable act, or refreshing lift for our family than spending an hour together in church on Sunday morning. No matter how frenzied and weary I am upon scurrying all the children into the van, and heading down the road to mass, there is an irresistible feeling of love and comfort as we travel together as a family to church. The business of unloading and getting into church and then choosing where to sit , all melt into a quiet calm as we get settled into the pew and begin mass. As we sing, and worship and share the sign of peace with each other, there are glimpses of smiles shared amongst each other and an unspoken presence of family bonding, and most importantly the spiritual renewal that only God can give you to face another big week! We leave church, visiting with friends, shaking Fr. Brian’s hand as we go out the door, and reload into the van to head back home. This time is one of the most precious gifts a family can share!
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Birthdays and Baseball,... July 3rd, 2008 · 34 days ago
IN THE STUDIO,... Things are steady,... I am painting whenever I can “eeeek” in some time at the easel. I am near completion on a washline/quilt painting, and should be ready to show it to you next week. The busy schedule of the family and landscaping keep snatching my painting time, but I persist onward! Thankfully with longer daylight hours, I’m motivated to get up earlier and stay up longer and squeeze a little more into the days. We are getting ready to send a new e-newsletter,... again, if you aren’t receiving our e-newsletters and would like to, just send us your email address!
COW TALES AND FARM NEWS,... Yesterday the guys finished fencing and pasture preparation and will move the heifers over to it today! Starting to think about second crop hay, the garden looks great (especially the potato crop), and we are plugging away at the landscaping! We are in the middle of installing flagstone walkways, and will be installing a 
paver patio soon. Today we will start planting some of the shrubs and perennials around the farm sign area! Yeah!
FAMILY MATTERS,... Take me out to the ball game,... John and the boys are off to the MN Twins Baseball game today. It’s a summer MUST! Good Luck Twins. We’ve celebrated 2 birthdays in the last week, 
Zachary and Katelyn – HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! Zachary’s celebration was all about football! He and 7 of his best buddies gathered at the Silver Lake Football Field for a couple of hours of play time. Then it was off to the pool, and a finale of pizza and cupcakes! Katelyn also celebrated, it was her “Sweet 16” birthday! A couple of nights each week are also spent at the ball park,... Jacob has 
had lots of nice hits and loves playing the game! Amanda and I went to the Mother-Daughter Tea for the Pola-czesky Royalty Court last Saturday – FUN!! And Taylor has arrived back from a one week Gymnastics camp in Wisconsin. So, I think that about covers everyone!!
Wishing you joyful summer days filled with the fun things you love!
Thanks for reading,
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Sheep and Summer Hay!,... June 24th, 2008 · 44 days ago
AROUND THE STUDIO,... Just finished this new sheep image this morning. It was one of those paintings 
(small too yet!) that should have taken 2 days and it turned into a week’s project – ugh! Nothing seemed to go right on this painting, but I’m fairly pleased with the finished product! I think this will probably be a new Christmas Card for the 08’ season. I’m ready to get onto a new piece today.
COW TALES AND FARM NEWS,... things are good. First hay crop is basically wrapped up for all farmers in the area now, and it’s ‘road ditch harvesting’ time. I think they should probably make it a national holiday, here in MN anyway. Yesterday, as I was driving to town for swimming lessons, I counted 6 different balers making road ditch hay, in only a 4 mile stretch!! With all farm commodity prices going through the roof, including the price of hay and feed, I would venture to say, that no road ditch in rural America will go uncut and baled this summer!! The cows love this season 
too – nothing better than freshly baled alfalfa. We are also back on the trail of landscaping, and put a flagstone walkway in this past Saturday – lots more to do,... !
FAMILY MATTERS,... the kids are hopping this summer – never a lack for something to do. In addition to helping out at our farm, Katelyn and Taylor have picked up hours working at the neighbors sheep farm. They are milking 41 Icelandic sheep just down the road, from which sheep cheese will be made in the near future! Interesting!! Pictured here is Deb – feeding corn and sheep farm owner (along with husband Scott), Bailey 
(another neighbor girl – on the left), and our Katelyn (purple t-shirt on the right) doing the 6pm evening milking! Good job girls. And what would summer be without swimming lessons!! Although I still suffer from childhood memories of ‘near-drowning incidents’, I am a parent believer that all kids need to learn to swim – so off to the pool we go. Here, Zachary is learning the back crawl!
Back to the easel,... thanks for reading!
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