Happy Holidays

A holiday display at the Venetian



Holiday display at the Wynn



UPDATE: I didn't get this posted when it was actually written so here's what's been going on since 11.14 ...which is not very much. Life has slowed to a crawl and I love that even amidst the hustle and bustle of the Season. We don't celebrate with family until January. H and I made our annual trip to Las Vegas and it was great. I do love that city but only for a few days. The diversity and decadence is wonderful. It's particularly a winter fantasy world this time of year.
Hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season and that the peace and love that is wished this time of year will carry through all of 2013 and beyond. Our world needs peace.

November 14, 2012
Life has been busy for the past few weeks. Everyone is healthy. H and I have gotten our flu shots and the Boyz have gotten their Kennel cough shots. I finished up another sketching class and miss it terribly. Laure are you listening? Unfortunately I haven't made the time to do a proper sketch in weeks...done a few tangles...because I have been knitting. I am a seasonal knitter. I knit one sweater, usually for myself a year and several scarves and hats. I'll be over this phase in my life about the time we leave for Marathon in the spring and it will be on to other things that are my passion. One of my favorite yarns is Noro. These yarns are produced in Japan and are lovely. I usually have two projects going at one time. I'm currently knitting a sweater/hoodie for me and making a scarf to donate to the local retirement village's craft shop. (sweater is now finished)
Our weather, like a lot of the rest of the country, is unseasonably warm. We have had more sun than we usually have this time of the year, which is OK by me and the Boyz. I have even skipped the gym a couple of times in lieu of walking.

Getting Ready for Bed (aka winter)

The last few weeks have been quite busy with mundane work but non-the-less important.  Living  in Michigan along the lake we have to 'get ready for bed'. There's lots to do to get things ready for winter activities...find the snow shoes, dust off the skis, get the winter hats, gloves, scarfs and coats organized, getting out my knitting bag and buying skeins of wool.

We are one of a few cities that still has leaf pick up by the city but there is a window of opportunity to get them raked/blown to the street for pick up. I play a waiting game with the leaves. I won't rake until the last minute and see that most of the leaves are off the trees.  I have even been known to be raking leaves to the curb while the trucks are coming around to pick up. One morning last week we awoke to a pretty heavy frost and a small tree, still full of leaves, began loosing its leaves as we watched. Within in an hour the tree was bare. It was quite amazing.

As the day warmed up...keep in mind that is a relative term...H and I put away the deck furniture and I gathered the little yard ornaments. I moved the house plants that had summered out of doors back into the house hoping they'll survive another winter indoors. Cut evergreen branches and put them in my  window boxed for the season.  I moved wood to the small dog yard for easy access so that Woody-dog and I can have lots of fires while watching the snow fall.

Darby and the Peanut Butter Jar

Let me introduce you to this cute little one. We have had the pleasure of sharing our home with this cute little Dachshund for about 5 years. We got him from the Ohio Dachshund Rescue. This little dog has been such a joy for us. He is one of the naughtiest/cutest little dogs I've ever had. He is part Dachshund, part Jack Russel. In his short life he has been paralyzed in his hind quarters and recovered and has had knee surgery. He has such a love for life. The people that 'turned' him in to the rescue said that he had been on the run with a border collie for about 6 weeks before they could catch them. They also think that he was from a puppy mill and a pet shop in a mall was broken into and these guys were turned loose. We had already rescued another Dachshund and we wanted another buddy.
I happen to like peanut butter and I do eat it with a spoon...forget that spread it on the bread stuff. Let's just go for it!  Well, I left the jar sitting on the end table while I went to get something in the kitchen.  When I returned, this is what I saw. He had moved the jar to the couch for a more convenient place to enjoy the pnbutter.  I haven't found the spoon yet.

Had a spectacular day kayaking on the Pigeon River with friends. The weather was perfect and the leaves were beautiful. It amazes me how a little sun does wonders for my soul.  We were out for about 3 hours and then the rains came once again. Looks like we'll have dreariness until maybe Monday. I put my lovely kayak in storage and dusted off the snow shoes and Xcountry skis. Gotta find any way to stay out doors.

October in Holland =

October (and the next 5 months)  in Holland and most of west Michigan equals rain, dreariness, cold temps with a splash of sun every once in a while...maybe. This is a picture of Lake Michigan I took a few days ago and it just says it all. Our fall colors are almost gone, in fact most trees have reached their peak. It's raining again today so I've spent most of the morning making Art and rearranging/cleaning my 'studio'...(corner of the living room). Wed. should be sunny so a friend and I are going to take our kayaks out for one last paddle out to the lake.

I'm still creating a few more journal pages from some of the pictures I took and sketched while traveling. I am particularly in love with my musician.One (of many) of the things I really need to work on is my composition.  I just get this image in my head and have to go with it and usually don't plan...Gotta stop that...Can you see the pencil lines under the shutters?  Obviously they were an after thought and I needed to fill some wall space.

Abita Beer, Shrimp&Grits and Memories

I've spent lots of hours this week making art. These are a couple of sketches that I just  had to finish. I enjoy the taste of good beer and Abita (1986) has become one of my favorites. This is a local beer produced about 30 miles north of  NO. The other thing that I found enjoyable was the open container law in NO. With the exception of after midnight party revelers, the people who drink (and those who don't) in NO are quite civilized. This is also the beer that is primarily drunk in the HBO series Treme. OK it's a good advertisement. I get it.
The latest assignment for my Imiganiary Trip to NOLA (made real for me by Hubby) was to sketch food. I chose to post a sketch of the wonderful dinner that I had at LaBayou. Shrimp and Grits Napoleon. Fried green tomatoes stacked on creamy southern grits surrounded by gulf shrimp drizzled with a Bourbon St. Cream sauce, it’s too good to be true!  YUMMMM!

Back in Chilly Holland

Had a wonderful time traveling to New Orleans and Biloxi for a few days. The weather was great except for the last two days. It rained but it wasn't cold like it can be in Holland. I am still catching up with laundry, unpacking and getting my sketches and photos organized. I'll be posting more soon.

My first adventure was to visit Mardi Gras World...a working museum. I got a private tour because no one else showed up for the 9:30am tour.  90% of the floats used in the Mardi Gras parades are built here. There is a height restriction of 18 feet but no length requirement. Some of the floats actually have restrooms on them as the people riding on the floats are on them for 8+ hours. After the tour I was invited to have a piece of King Cake. 

The Big Easy

In the BE and Bolixi for a few days. Weather is a little warm but beautiful. Have had lots of great food and lots of history. Went to the 9th ward (remember hurricane Katrina '05?) and Treme another area devistated by K. In NOLA. Drove over to Bolixi which was almost completely destroyed by K. This area didn't evacuate because they thought K would miss them. All predictions were that she was headed to NOLA. It's been 7 years and people are still trying to rebuild. The coastal area is beautiful with lots of history and the people are wonderful.

Au revoir to Another Imaginary Trip to 'la Ville Lumière'

I just posted my final assignment from my 'Trip to Paris'.  I can't wait to travel with Laure on a real trip to Paris or anywhere else for that matter.  If anyone is interested in taking a GREAT, online, watercolor sketching/journaling class this is the one! I also can't believe I am posting this sketch outside the safety net of a class.  Our assignment was to sketch some of the icons of Paris using a marker/pencil keeping in mind that if we were on a real trip we probably would only have about 20 minutes at each location to get the basics of the sketch down before we would be moving on to another tourist landmark. I acutally got this finished in about 30 minutes.

Finally headed to New Orleans tomorrow am. We are a week late as the weather just wouldn't cooperate for us to fly not to mention the jump in hotel rates for the weekend and me spending a few hours in the ER due to food poisoning. Looks like we'll have clear skies all the way down.  I'll be doing a lot of sketching, eating, and enjoying warm weather on the beaches of the gulf coast. Al will be doing some poker playin'.  It supposed to get to the upper 30s tonight in Holland but then warm up a bit. Weather in NO: Warm, sunny H's upper 80; L's mid 70's. ;-)

Unexpected Adventure

My walking partner and I had an unexpected adventure last Friday. We were taking our usual walk out to the Holland Harbor to look at Lake Michigan.  We always pass the infamous light house Big Red on our way to the end of the pier.  Friday the people that are 'keepers' of the lighthouse were giving a private tour to some British travel journalists.  We asked to take a look and were granted permission.  This light house is only open to the public on specially arranged tours or if one is lucky, tours are given for a couple of hours one Sunday a month between Memorial Day and Labor Day. My friend and I have lived here for over 25 years and have missed very few days walking out to the Lake.  This was the first time that we have been able to take a peek.  I took these pictures from the very top. This is a beautiful sailing ship that we see on a regular basis too.

Three Months+! Really?

Well, I just can't believe it's been three months + since I posted. I have been here several times thinking about posting but then got side tracked.  I've been pretty busy this summer which is great. Had my kayak out several times, lunched with friends, worked out, gained weight and then lost those few pounds, took another sketching class...Imaginary Trip To Paris this time... and now the summer is on the wain!

I'm leaving in a few days to go to New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. Lots of sketching opportunities in NOLA for sure. I missed Laure's NOLA made Live trip last fall. Can't wait! We'll be gone about 8 days and then I'll be home for about 48 hours. Just enough time to do laundry and repack for a 10+ day road trip with girl friends to TX. 

New "to me" phone app.

http://instagr.am/p/LSho9ms7g3/

Found this new 'to me' phone app. Not sure exactly how it works and might delete it. I like the filters that it has. I wish it posted the picture rather than just he link. It's been around for iPhone etc since 2010 but has just become available for Android phones.

Tulip Time is over for another year

Survived Tulip Time another year. Unfortunately it rained for the parade of the bands but overall everything went pretty well. I managed to stay away from all of the mad chaos. Our town will get back to being a bit normal maybe. Spring has sprung even though we had a bit of summer back in March. I've managed to get my yard and garden ready for the planting which we don't do until after Memorial day as we run the risk of a freeze that will kill our tender annuals. I'll be purchasing flowers for my flower boxed and pots in another week or so.

Here is my latest painting for the second assignment. It was very difficult as I always struggle with foliage but I am so enjoying this class.

This 'n That kind of week

It's been a week since we came back from paradise. H. keeps reminding me that 'it's raining in paradise' hoping I will stop moaning about not being there. Actually the weather has improved here in Holland and Tulip Time festival begins today. I think they will have fireworks tonight.

I've gotten back into my workout routine and that's a good thing and my Imaginary trip to Greece began on the 26th. This is the first assignment sketch after suggestions made by Laure, my instructor. We were traveling in Athens and I am working on a couple other sketches. We are in Kalamata this week and I'll post this week's assignment later.

Walking the dog with some Tulip Time ranting!

Took my boys for a walk this morning down Tulip Lane.  Sad sight actually as the tulips have just about met their peak.  Our TulipTime festival  or celebration of Dutch Heritage, doesn't begin until the the 5th of May and runs through the 13th.  TT follows on the heels of  Cinco de Mayo often over Klompen the Mexican festival. I personally would rather hear a good Mariachi band and eat good Mexican food than the Dutch crap. (OK,  I know I am  prejudice against Holland and it's conservative, 'i want to tell you what to do' ways.)  Actually for many, many years the motto at our local High School was 'You ain't much if you ain't Dutch'. What does that say to our very large Hispanic population not to mention the Asians and other minorities as well as other people of European ancestry? Our Superintendent finally said that would no longer be the motto.  Good for her.

TT actually does boost our economy a bit, while exploiting the children of our local schools to march in a 'Children's Parade' and brings visitors from far and wide to hear the likes of Lawrence Welk Music shows and eat traditional Dutch foods such as Pea Soup and Pigs (saucijzenbroodjes)   in the Blanket.  Hummm... anyone ever been to Amsterdam? Members of our Dutch community frequently forgets that they are not really Dutch other than by blood lines that go back to VanRaalte because they left the 'liberal, we like all people' country of the Netherlands.

I know I should give the community a break as I love everything German and it's OK to be proud of one's heritage, but don't use it to exclude anyone.

Home again, home again, jiggity jog!

Well we arrived home safely. The last leg of our flight was a good one. Had a little rain but not much turbulence.  Can't believe I left 80+ degree weather to return to frost on the pumpkin.  Got all the laundry  finished, suitcases put away until June, groceries bought and the lawn mowed. Now it's time to get back into my routine and my imaginary trip.
Traveling to Greece for the next month or so with Laure Ferlita in the Imaginary Realm. I love these WC sketching classes. 

Hazelhurst, GA

Left Marathon today. Had terrible head winds and moderate to severe turbulence.Al keeps telling me to die quietly. LOL! Needed to stop for fuel and decided to spend the night in Hazelhurst.  A town of 3400 people, very nice "suthern" people. Took a while to locate a restaurant that was still open for dinner and it is a dry county with the exception of being able to buy beer at the local Walmart...yikes!  The waitress offered to go get me one. Not sure that was legal.

The guys at the FBO aka Municipal Airport were very helpful and friendly. They loaned us the airport car...of course they only have one, put the plane in the hanger for the night and didn't charge us anything.  Gotta love those Good ole boys.

Rooster of Key West

Need I say more? These beautiful animals are everywhere in Key West along with the feral cats that are related to the six toed Hemmingway kittys.

My View...of the world!

This happens to be my view of the world today as seen from my couch in our condo.

Oh No, it's raining in paradise.

We are having some pretty heavy thunderstorms today and they will likely be around all day. I'm glad I have my paint box and my smart phone. It's pretty cool to watch thunderstorms roll across the ocean from the safety of our balcony.

Crab Claws

Having a very good time. My water activities have been put on hold for a while as the winds have been 10 - 15 mph but life in the keys is wonderful. Stone Crab Claws are very popular and very expensive. We had these for dinner to the tune of 13.95$ pp...but hey, when you are on an island in paradise what can you do?

The fisherman only take one claw from the crab and return it to the ocean. Interesting fact: If a predator, fish or human, takes hold of a claw, the stone crab can simply "release" it and continue on its way. Over time, the claw will grow back, so that's why it is not unusual to see a crab with one claw larger than the other.

Bear is staying the the cool of the AC because of his fur he gets too hot but we have a lovely ocean view and he's enjoying himself immensely.

WhooHoo! At the Beach

Arrived at the Beach Tuesday pm about 8 hours flying time. We had some pretty rough turbulence over the mountains but it was worth every minute of it to be here in paradise. We are at our usual place in Marathon and will be here for about 2 weeks. I rented a kayak for a week and have been out and about several times. The mangroves are just teaming with wildlife and make for some great paint opportunities. I have got to find a good camera that I can use in the water.

On the road again and other musings.

Well, yet another month plus has slipped by and I haven't written anything here. I will use my usual excuse...I've been busy...with what? Well finished the obligatory winter project of knitting a sweater...

I've been painting quite a bit thanks to the wonderful online classes that I discovered. I have virtually traveled to the beach and am currently in Ireland in County Clare (very appropriate) visiting the Ring of Kerry and painting up a storm.  I will be traveling for real to the beach next week....Yeah! and will also be taking an Imaginary Trip to Greece.

We will be leaving for our annual migration to the FL Keys. Yes, while others in the colder climes travel to FL in  Dec-Mar. we prefer to go in late March or early April and stay for several weeks.  The water is warmer so I can get some kayaking and snorkeling in and Al can fish some.

...and

Well, I think I have this blog like I want it for now. Still want to work on the text colors but it'll have to do for now.
Tomorrow is my Birthday. Yep Leap Year day. I will have had 16 actual birthdays but have spent 64 years getting to sixteen. I am going on a short trip with a girl friend and will spend the day enjoying myself...like I dont' do that on most days.

Updating Blog Challenge!

I have spent way too much time trying to update this Blog's look. I can't decide if it's my computer or me but it is frustrating. I need to leave it and get to the gym. ...to be continued....

The Snow Has Arrived!

Well, snow has once again fallen in Michigan. We have about 6 inches of the white stuff on the ground, wet and fluffy. It's coming down about an inch an hour at the moment. Good day to stay inside; knit, listen to an e-audio book (Solomon's Oak) and paint except for the time I am out having lunch with my teacher friends who have a snow day today. The one thing I miss about being in the classroom...waking up to snow and holding my breath waiting for the news of 'school's called off'.  This one is especially nice because it came on a Friday making a wonderful 3 day weekend.

Imaginary Visit to the Beach

At last! My art class with Laure Ferlita began today. We will taking an imaginary visit to the Beach. While I have been sketching and painting sine the end of the last class, I am glad to be back in a class situation. I am excited about learning new things from Laure and meeting new artist friends and just have fun playing with paint. 

Busy Month

Just found the blogger app for my phone. Since I haven't been here in over a month it seems I thought I would try posting from my phone. Time has just slipped away since I last posted but I've been busy and that's good.

A friend of mine lives in Colon, Michigan which is the Magic Capital of the World. She is a member of the Lions Club and every year they sell lapel pins. Apparently people collect these pins from all over the world. She asked me to design this years pin. What fun that is. This little guy is the rough draft and will change several times but I thought he was pretty cute.

More Snow

We got another winter snow storm this weekend. I was lovely. Fluffy, wet, stuck to everything! It is pretty cold this am (14F) with a WC of 7F. Should warm up to around 29 and them the melt will begin Tues. I think I don't really mind winter in MI when it's like this. Since I am such a changeling, it gives me a chance to do just that...Change what I am doing.  We have a bout 18 inches and the sun is shinning a bit. I took this picture at night. It's the gate post to my deck. Loved the way the snow just built up and up and up on things. Note the pine tree in the background

Winter Wonderland

Winter finally arrived here in west Michigan for a while. I was able to go snowshoeing a couple of days but the temps will be back up in the 40 tomorrow. The snowshoeing was spectacular! We had some pretty wet snow and it clung to the trees making them look like a fairy land. I loved the shadows in this picture. Unfortunately Bear didn't accompany me.