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.

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.