Coffee Art® | Announcements

July 23, 2007
Coffee Art® is now offering a new feature on our website. We will be selecting our favorite paintings and allowing a closer study of our works.

This is the first in the series, with Coffee Connoisseur. This is the image of Coffee Art® and we thought it would be appropriate lead off this exhibition.

Keep track of this exhibition to take a closer look at our Coffee Art®.

July 16, 2007
We experienced a sporting a event that we have never before seen in person, a Polo Match. It was a fundraising event for cancer research, and it was quite successful. It was a learning experience as well. We learned all about the game:

Riders score by driving a white ball (about the size of a baseball) into the opposing team's goal using a long-handled mallet. Goals are only valid if the scoring rider is mounted. Each polo team consists of four riders and their horses. Play occurs in seven-minute periods, called chukkas. Six chukkas is the normal length of play and our match even went into overtime.

It was quite the experience to feel the thundering hoofs gallop across the field and to listen to the deep, quick breaths of the horses. It was interactive as well. At halftime, we were invited to walk on the field and to 'divot stomp.' It was a lot of fun!

It was a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon, and we would definitely go again.

July 14, 2007
In our backyard, we have rabbits that visit us quite often and have even inspired a painting, 'Winter Warmth.' Now is the first time that we have seen the tiniest of bunnies. We studied and watched the little bunny nibble on leaves and hop around with its tiny cottontail. They are very cute!

July 13, 2007
Last summer, we both entered a photo contest for a magazine. It was a contest to show you and your pet and how you enjoy the outdoors together. The winning photo would be on the cover of Living North magazine and a prize.

For Angel's photo, Angel had Andy riding his bike with Gidget in the backpack. Gidget loves riding on our backs and Angel wanted to capture the action. So, we headed to our neighborhood bike trail and snapped some photos early one morning last July.

We entered the contest, hoping to make at least the top three. Angel did just that and she won the contest! The winnings included a gift certificate to a local pet supply store.

We had been meaning to go to the pet store to claim our prize for months, but it seemed to pushed off for some reason or another. But we noticed that the expiration date was nearing and now was the time to claim our winnings.

Gidget came along with us to the pet store and she offered us a suggestion. She said that she has everything that she could hope for, and she wanted to donate her gift certificate to the local shelter, Animal Allies.

So, she picked out quite a variety of dog and cat food, kitten nutrition, and of course, some dog treats.

We brought the food and treats to the Animal Allies office and they were very surprised and grateful of Gidget's donation. We all hope that it will help the animals down at the shelter.

July 12, 2007
Every Thursday evening in the summer, the Two Harbors City Band performs. The Band has been playing each Thursday evening in the summer since 1897, and 110 years later, it is the longest continuing city band in Minnesota.

Besides the great music, the best part is seeing Andy's dad play the tuba. He is very passionate and has fun each time he performs.

It is really charming to see the community gather to listen to the city band. It is a great tradition and not much has changed, and that is a good thing. People set up their lawn chairs, kids run around to the music, and the greatest generation listen from their cars and beep their horns after the songs.

This event even inspired a painting a few years ago called (what else?) "Thursday Night at the Bandshell" It depicts what you would see at the summer concerts.

If you are ever in Two Harbors on a Thursday night in the summer, be sure to head to the Bandshell. It is small town Americana that you have to experience in person. But, if for now, take a look at the short film we put together from this evening's performance. Enjoy!

Angel's Birthday
Today was Angel's birthday and we planned a unique and creative birthday bash. If you recall, last month, we visited a local pottery studio, The Pottery Burn. It is a studio where we pick a piece off the shelf, create a design on it, paint it, and then the staff will fire your piece. It takes about a week to get the finished piece. The Pottery Burn also hosts birthday parties. We had such a fun time our first visit here, we thought that it would be a blast to have everyone meet up here for Angel's birthday.

We arrived to the studio a little bit earlier to pick out which pieces Angel would like for her birthday. Everyone was instructed not to bring a gift, they would be creating a gift for her this evening here.

So, Angel picked out a few coffee mugs, of course, some plates, bowls, and a few other items.

Soon, Angel's family arrived along with Andy's family. We dined on delicious white sauce pizza from Do North Pizza and then we started the artwork.

It was fun to see which item each family member chose to paint for Angel.

Everyone was really focused and concentrated on their project. This was everyone else's first time here and were excited for a new experience.

Time flew by and everyone was really getting into the artwork. The allotted time was coming to a close and everyone was hurrying to add last minute details to their piece.

When everyone finished, we sat down for Angel's birthday cake.

Everyone had a great time and Angel really loved that each gift was created just for her to honor her special day.

The completed works will be fired and ready to pick up in a week or so. We will share a few of them online.

Gidget also had a hand in creating artwork. As you can see, it took a lot out of her to express her creativity....