Andalucia and Beyond

Off on another adventure. This time to Spain and Morocco. We'll be visiting the cities that comprise Al Andalucia (Madrid, Seville, Cordoba, Granada, along with Gibraltar, Fez, Marrakesh, and Casablanca.)  Leaving May 1 returning May 15, 2015. Not sure I'll get to post to this blog until I return but check back to see what adventures we'll have. 

Another Visit to China in My Memory

I'm taking another Imaginary Trip to a past VaCa with Laure Ferlita. I think this is the third time that I've taken this class and relived and sketched trips to the Alps, particularly Chamonix FR, a Bohemian adventure through Prague and Budapest and this trip I trying to capture some of my trip to China.  I will be leaving soon for Spain and Morocco and certainly hope that I will actually sketch on location instead of waiting until I get home and sketching from photographs that I've taken.

Happy April 1

It's finally beginning to look a little like spring around West Michigan.  Warmer weather and a tulip bulbs peeking their heads above the snow that is still on the ground.  Our temps should clime to the upper 50s today and the sun is shining.  

Bear and I are slowly getting ready for out trip to Spain and Morocco in a month. When my mind and body is still "cold" and there's a bit of snow on the ground it's hard to decide what to pack.  It will be fun to get out the spring clothes, trying them on...hoping the still fit from late year...or maybe a bit looser.  Bear has his own wardrobe so we'll hove to short that out

Birthday Celebration

Spent the evening with dear friends and they had a small birthday celebration for me. Wonderful time with a red velvet birthday cupcake too boot. I created this little thank you card for them.

My Timeout Chair

I'll bet you can tell where I want to be. I'm sure that much of the U.S. is very tired of winter about now. I do enjoy winter sports and love snow, but I'm getting very grumpy and tired of winter. My friend and I were braving the 1 degree temperature with a wind chill of -10 degrees and snow shoeing Sunday. We remarked to each other that "This really isn't much fun any more." Here in Michigan it'll be another 2 months at least before we begin to see the signs of spring.  We have actually had snow on Memorial Day. 

(update) I guess my snow shoeing and running days are done for the season as I broke my toe yesterday. I'm fine just difficult to walk.  But it has gotten me back in the pool after a 6month haiteus. 

Bear and I are leaving tomorrow for a couple of days going Little River Casino. (Manistee MI) As you know, I like to play the slot machines and it's a good little get away. One of my good friends, Kristi, is treating me for my birthday. Would like to be traveling to a warmer climate, but at least I get to stay I a hotel with a pool and restaurants.

I've green busy working on the e-book illustrations . I think it's coming along pretty well. Just a few more sketches to go and I think I'll be finished. This has been pretty exciting. It'll be fun to see my name in print as 'illustrator'.  I'll post some of the sketches and the book when it's finished.

A Few More Remembrances from the Beach

A few more sketches from my wonderful trip Winter Interrupted 

We've had a lot of snow in the past few days and I've been painting in the mornings and snowshoeing in the afternoons.  It's so wonderful to have warm things to paint. Hoping we get to the beach again in a few weeks.  Bear is staying warm and playing with his mini beach ball but is longing for the beach too.

Extending the Glow

 Three of my sketches that I did while recently enjoying a sketching holiday to St Pete Beach, FL.  Eight women, who love to sketch, met together to sketch, eat and have fun.  Our instructor, Laure Ferlita, teaches on line watercolor journaling classes and she put this trip together for us. We have all been friends on FB for several years and this was an opportunity to meet face to face. Sketching was fun; food and drink delicious and no words to describe the bonding and friendships that happened.

It  was a great opportunity to get out of cold, snowy Michigan for a few days and travel to the warmth of the sand, surf  and sun. I've fantasied about taking a painting trip for years and finally I got to do just that and at the beach...my favorite place to be.

We stayed at the Trade Winds Resort and it was absolutely perfect. Lots and lots to do. My room overlooked the ocean to the west. Sunset every evening. We sketched at John's Pass Village, Clearwater Marine Aquarium, and the Sunken Gardens and of course the beach.  Ate great food and had lively conversations.

If you are interested in sketching with watercolor you really should check out Laure's classes- Imaginary Trips and join us in the fun.

Bear was just as happy to get out of Michigan as I was. Didn't find a t shirt for him however but Laure did include a 'bear' size beach ball that kept him entertained.

Ciao everyone. Have a good day.
Please leave a comment below if you would like. I'd love to hear from you.

Ice Palaces and Cold

Our weather has been brutally cold the last few days.  Wind chills in the negative single digits with howling winds. 40 mph! We have had over a foot of snow with lots of drifting.  This Polar Vortex (as the weather people call it) is moving all across the US and deep into the southern parts of the country.

While out snowshoeing I came across this cottage near the lake. Something about it reminded me of the ice palace at Varykino in the movie Dr Zhivago. (1965) Although if you check out the link, the ice palace has much more ice than this little cottage.  I discovered that the creation of the ice palace was done in frozen beeswax and chipped marble and was filmed in Spain.

I don't mind winter in Michigan if we have snow. Not quite as much as we had last winter, however. Snow on the ground seems to brighten up the day quite a bit even if the sun isn't shining.  The grey, dreary days really do get me down...rainy days and Monday's as the say.