Wall Dog Week

For weeks we've been seeing blank canvases being painted on several of the buildings around the downtown area.  It's been exciting to anticipate the Wall Dogs coming to Marshall.  Last week, the Wall Dogs, over 150 international artists, came to town to paint murals depicting scenes from Marshall's history.  It was such an amazing experience to get to watch these murals come to life on the buildings of our town.  

 

Late Wednesday evening we walked around downtown watching the artists project the images of the murals onto the canvases.  They had to have been up so late getting this all done.  The next morning we were driving to Terre Haute and got to see their progress.  Most of the murals already had paint on them by that point.  

 

There were several food vendors set up around the Court House lawn for the event, so that evening we came back for dinner and had so much fun walking around, checking out each mural and watching them be transformed. 

 

Evangeline was captivated by the "Gypsy Queen" mural.  We watched this one go up with much anticipation.  They saved the center of the mural for last.  That was where the gypsy would be painted.  We speculated what the gypsy queen would look like....turns out she looked like a man, but it's still Evangeline's favorite.  We just happened to be in the right place at the right time and Evangeline was invited to paint on the mural.  She was so so so thrilled!  

 

There was an art fair on the square the following day.  We all came up for lunch. 

 

It just blows my mind that these people were able to work together to create these beautiful murals using only a grid and a paint brush.  

 

On Sunday we came up for one last walk around while the Wall Dogs were wrapping everything up.  Evangeline proudly showed off her own special touch she added to the Gypsy Queen. 

 

She also was given a one-of-a-kind gift from one of the Wall Dogs.  As we were walking past the Veteran's mural one of the artists handed her the picture they used to go off of when they painted the Vet on the wall.  Both of the artisits had signed it for her.  It was a pretty special souvenir. 

 

It was just so neat to feel like we were a part of a piece of Marshall history in the making.  Maybe years from now Evangeline will say, "I remember when they painted those murals.  I was just a little girl then, but I saw it all happen."

Jed's Baptism

Jed was baptized over the weekend, June 26th to be exact.   When Pastor Richard poured the water in the fount, Jed was so curious.  He leaned so far forward in my arms it was like he wanted to get right in the bowl.  Evangeline came up with us and Jed enjoyed trying to pull at her hair.  He did a fabulous job though and we were all so proud of our little boy.  To my delight, several of my church friends snapped pictures during the ceremony. 

 

After church we went to Richard's Farm for brunch.  All the grandparents were in attendance for the baptism.  Grandpa and Grandpa Roy had to duck out before lunch and I didn't get their picture.  

 

Boy, was it a hot day, but no trip to Casey would be complete without stopping to check out a big thing.  This time around it was the world's largest pitchfork.  

 

Amish Country

Me and Ammie took the kids on a little day trip to Arthur and Arcola, IL this week.  What fun!  We walked around at the little shops in Arcola and checked out the Wall Dog murals (we are anticipating the ones we are getting in Marshall this week).  We ate lunch in Arthur at Yoder's Kitchen.  After lunch we checked out the Amish-run shops in Arthur.  We drove outside of town and watched how they worked their fields with horse drawn farm equipment.  We guessed it was wash day because everywhere we looked there were clothes on the lines.  Evangeline loved catching a glimpse of all the horse and buggies trotting down the roads.  We visited the Homestead Bakery on the grounds of the Great Pumpkin Patch...we will definitely be visiting this place again in the fall.  

 

We visited a fabric shop were we found a Little House on the Prairie fabric collection.  Not only is it adorable, but we've been spending the past few weeks listening to Little House on the Prairie on CD every time we drive to Terre Haute.  The CD's are absolutely fabulous.  We've both really enjoyed listing to it.  It's been something special we've shared.  I don't know why, but it's going to be a special memory for me.  I think it's just because it's a lovely story about something we both really enjoy, the life and times of settlers and pioneers.  I love stealing glances at Evangeline in the back seat taking it all in.  I've also enjoyed our discussions about the book.  I'm looking forward to starting the next book, which we've just checked out.  We bought a charm pack and decided to make a small quilt.  Evangeline helped arrange the squares and I think I'll back it with flannel to be nice and snuggly....a good blanket to read with. 

 

Evangeline was very interested in the Amish.  That evening on our neighborhood walk she said..."I wonder what the Amish are doing right now".  Her wheels were turning.