For over a dozen years, Sherryl spent every other weekend caring for an autistic boy. And on those same weekends, Sherryl's good friend Bronwyn (AKA Mighty "B") cared for a developmentally disabled girl. The four stayed at Day Care all weekend during those years where a family, who lived in a place called Hodge Podge House, was formed.
As seasons cycled through the years, Sherryl and "B" would plan special outings for the children. Going to the Gravenstein Apple Festival in Sebastopol became an annual tradition each August. All had a great time. The children are now grown, and the autistic boy Sherryl cared for is 18 years old and living in a group home with boys his own age. Sherryl has visited him a few times over the past year. (The image at left is not in focus; it's not your eyes!)
Although the era called "Hodge Podge House" has ended, Sherryl and "B" remain the closest of friends and the tradition of going to the Gravenstein Apple Festival continues. So it was to Sebastopol Sherryl and "B" went this past Saturday, sans charges, to enjoy this year's festivities once again.
They enjoyed all that was familiar: arts, crafts, food, wines and brews, games, entertainment and farm life activities. And they enjoyed some brand new delights, too. Of particular note was a new artist they met, Lisa Victoria, who specializes in creating illustrations of fairies. In addition to her website, Lisa Victoria has an Etsy shop where some of her illustrations are available for purchase.
Fairies are a new interest to RaRa ever since she took Austin and Haley for a walk a few weeks ago. As they hiked around blackberry bushes and over a small stream, they came upon a single blue feather. They were all quite intrigued by this discovery and, apropos to RaRa's creativity, Haley is certain they found a fairy's wing. Haley has loved fairies most of her life, and this incident gives RaRa much license to inspire imagination in both Haley and Austin.
So Sherryl departed from the apple festival with a new friend and with a new print she'll give to Haley at just the right moment. The illustration she chose for Haley is called "The Tooth Fairy" and is pictured below. On the back of the illustration reads the following: "After a long night of hiding coins under children's pillows, the tooth fairy takes a well deserved nap on her tooth shaped bed."
While it will be a few years before Haley begins to lose her baby teeth, Austin has already lost several. We're certain Sherryl will continue to keep in touch with her new friend, Lisa Victoria, and we're certain RaRa will foster sweet fairy dreams in Austin and Haley.
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