A Bay View Porch

It was a sunny, warm, wonderful week to paint in Bay View.

I also had a couple of watercolor classes along the Bay. It was hot, but there was a nice breeze and we had shelter there. It just seemed sooo good to have it actually feel like summer.

Last night we walked home from the park in the rain with the kids, then spent the evening reading and playing checkers on the porch. Now, that's a summer evening ~ complete with hamburgers, hot dogs, and root beer floats.

Sturgeon Bay

I took my sketchbook ( and my husband) to the beach today.

I had intended to really sketch up a storm, but I felt really fuzzy brained in the sun and this was all I did. I didn't read. I didn't even think. I was just there. Nice.

Now I am trying to shift gears to be ready for classes tomorrow. Shifting gears is about the hardest thing I do. If I didn't shift, I would just kind of drift into neutral, and that wouldn't be good, so here I go ~ paints packed, sketchbooks packed, clothes ready, rain plan in place . . . .

A Nice Life

Sketches from the Concert in the Park.
The Northern Michigan Chorale

It was a beautiful evening to sit in the park and listen to this great group of people who obviously love singing together. One of the fun things about living in a small town - we can just grab our chairs, walk down the hill (oh yeah, we drove) and sit with friends and neighbors for an evening of entertainment. I am still waiting for Van Morrison or Leonard Cohen to come, but . . . nothing personal, Northern Michigan Chorale.

Yesterday I bound a new sketchbook - red cover, black and white polka dot end papers in the picture above. I still have a lot to learn about book binding. I over-compensated for all the mistakes I made last time, so NEXT time I ought to get it right, huh?

Next week I have a very busy week of classes - seven in four days. I love it! Actually I think the next few weeks are like that, but I am afraid to look at the calender more than one week at a time. So if I act dumb when you ask me, it is because I am trying to live in the moment. And loving every moment. Last week my youngest granddaughter said, "Grandma, you have a nice life." Yep, Sweetie, I sure do.

Radishes

Radishes from the Farmers' Market

It was a beautiful morning at the Boyne City Farmers' Market. I love it there. It has such a feeling of community, and the produce, baked goods, fish, cheese, ETC are wonderful.

I am really not a radish person, but when I saw these with the sun shining on them (through them!) I had to take them home with me. It was either that or stand and look at them, holding up the line for awhile. I decided it was more appropriate to give the guy my $1 and move on.

There was a little nibble out of one of the radishes and the market guy said, "Everybody's hungry this time of year". I kind of hope the hungry critter was a little mouse and not a big slug. Wouldn't you have to have teeth to nibble a radish?

1st Friday Summer Kick-Off

A Demo Page from my Workshop.

3rd Annual Watercolor Sketchbook Journal Summer Kick-Off

Did we ever luck out with the weather! PERFECT! And what a fun group of journal painters! Everyone was so enthusiastic and talented. We all have to be reminded at the beginning of "journal painting season" (called summer in some places, but we don't seem to be having that here) that the journal pages are very personal and we put what we want in them ~ what a we want, how we want.Everyone picked up on that in a hurry and really did some beautiful pages!

Thanks to everyone who attended ~ you made my day!!!

Now today it is cold again, but we have been pretending all day that it is summer. We sat in the sun and read, had lunch, painted outdoor furniture, etc. We are SICK of being cold, so we are pretending to be warm. It worked pretty well until the outdoor temp dropped to 45 late in the afternoon, and it was only 62 in the house!

Maybe tomorrow is the day summer begins.

Pineapple and Strawberries

Plans for dinner: Sketch first, cook second.

We had friends over for dinner last night, and when they arrived I was sketching the food instead of cooking. They're very patient people - it was okay.

We made fresh pineapple and ham pizza, and a salad of red leaf lettuce, strawberries, oranges, toasted walnuts, and Gorgonzola.

By the way, does anyone have a tried and true trick for getting red wine out of a white table cloth, a butcher's apron, and tennies? It is probably already too late to say "Please hurry", isn't it?

Cute Little Red Car

Where's the big, hairy, drunk guy?

Yeah, I know. This has nothing to do with art, but I'll zero in on any distraction that comes my way. For those of you who know me personally, you may know that I love incongruities.

So ~ about 2:15 A.M. two cops haul a big, hairy, drunk guy out of this CUTE, shiny, little red car, and stuff him, handcuffed, into the police car ~ just like in the movies. In the morning sun this car is as happy and innocent looking as can be. But why is it still there? Is the drunk guy coming back for it when he gets out of jail in 30 days? It has no plates, just a permit. Permits don't last forever, fella.

Living in the city, on a corner, can be pretty distracting. We have had some interesting things happen, literally, just a few feet from our bed!!! I won't bore you with it. I'm sure we all have things to do today.

SUMMER CLASSES 2009

My summer class schedule is posted on my CLASS SITE.

I hope one or two of these will fit your summer schedule. This is such a great area to find "paintable" subjects!!!