Ever feel as if you're on an endless treadmill? Many of us do. No matter how long their to do lists have become our Marshfield neighbors take time out each Memorial Day weekend for two important celebrations.

First, and more importantly, we have town wide Memorial Day celebrations. From the town parade to Veteran's Park to the color guards that grace each cemetery in town, local residents join in spirit with others around the country –and globe – to reflect, give honor and express thanks for all the U.S. men and women who died during military service. It's hard to find words to acknowledge what we owe them. Liberty is more than a word, march or song. It is a freedom that we can hardly grasp until it's out of reach. This weekend we give special honor to our fallen relatives, ancestors and neighbors for protecting American freedoms for us and many more to come.

If you'd like more information about the holiday, our veterans, our traditional celebrations, and our patriotic songs visit this site:  http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Memorial-Day.shtml

We know, however, that the weekend has adopted additional traditions. The long weekend marks the unofficial start of summer here. Locally, there's no better way to celebrate than to visit the North River Arts Society's annual Festival of the Arts.

From tonight's preview party, through all the wonderful festivities tomorrow and Sunday, our neighborhood will be alive with arts, music, food and spirit.

Quick notes:  http://marshfield.wickedlocal.com/article/20140520/NEWS/140529693

Official site:  http://www.northriverarts.org/

A wonderful Marshfield Community Television video:  http://vimeo.com/95415767

Unbeknownest to them, two of the acclaimed artists assumed a new role this year. 

Liz Haywood-Sullivan, a superb artist and the current President of the International Association of Pastel Societies, and her husband J Michael Sullivan, a modern photographic master, allowed me to capture this photographic moment in the NRAS Firehouse. Liz has just spent a day teaching there.

Their incredible talents, beauty, niceness and intelligence doesn't stop with them. Watch for the amazing work of Meg Haywood-Sullivan, their daughter, another wonderful talent on both sides of the camera.

The artists as art! Here's Unconditional, one of my works accepted into this year's show.

A detailed view is on another site here:  http://tinyurl.com/Liz-and-Michael-on-TWG