Christmas......

Our Christmas photo 2016.
George, Thomas,Michele, Paige,Mitchell,Alli,Ethan,Karen,Steve,Kris,Jeff, missing Andrew who was in Florida.  Cutter managed to literally butt in too!

We had a warm, family day enjoying each other's company and good food with lots of cookies. Steve brought an Xbox game that everyone could play together on the big screen.  Then we tried another new one called Linkee and had a lot of laughs with Mitch as mc.

Today we drive to Steve's to visit a bit more then on South once the sleet goes through Monday.

We girls enjoy talking about  Paige and Thomas's wedding plans and Ali's  graduation party. Alli is using Dr. Seuss's "Oh the places you'll go" as a theme which is fun to work in to it all.

This will be a busy summer for the family as Jeff is up for re-election too.

Christmas....

After a nice flight we are here at the lake for family gathering. Kris will be hosting this year with a bit of help from me. She is planning everyone's favorites and cooking up a storm. A snowfall has made the scene pretty for now and worth the cold temps.

The house feels more like a cottage these days as more time is spent away. It is still "home" ,though, to us.

My Christmas wish is for peace on this earth of ours. I cannot understand the cruelty in the world. For now I count my blessings and try to be worthy.

At sea again....

 George on the Lido Deck with my Fire..I shared so he could play Solitaire

On Dominique but not our ship

 

So off we went for a 10 day cruise to the Southern Caribbean with the Guitars..both Nick and Mary and Jim and Marsha made us honorary members of the family as we celebrated Thanksgiving aboard with them.  Their sister, Sharon, and husband Jeff surprised us all  on Aruba when they walked up the beach to meet us for the day.  What fun!!

 

Because we had been on all the islands before, the trip was relaxing with mostly beach time and just enjoying the ship.  The Royal Princess was huge, 3500 passengers, but didn't feel like it at all, a surprise to us.  Our veranda stateroom was "efficient" but sufficient as well, though we decided if taking a longer voyage we would opt for a bit larger space.  Now at home everything feels HUGE!!! 

 

We had a lot of laughs throughout the trip but started out with a big one...Nick forgot to bring his swimsuits.  After 50 some cruises, no less!!  Luckily George had spares to loan until he could find one in Aruba.  That's one for the books though and a story to add to the Guitar repertoire.

 

Back home now and we are getting into the holiday spirit starting with a boat parade party this weekend.  Can't wait to see the family again and celebrate with them.

 

 



Estero Island travels......

  Judge Joseph W. Palmerio and Me

 "The Red One" pastel

 

These last three weeks have been focused on the Paint the Beach event and have taken me up and down the island many, many times.  It takes a few trips to get everything ready and in place before we begin.  This year the heat is oppressive..in the high 80s or 90.  And the traffic on the island is disrupted by construction making delays sitting in line.  Since Estero Blvd is the ONLY street to travel, making the trip takes determination.  Just chill and enjoy the show!!

 

Once everything was in place and the artists began to arrive, the week went well.  I was able to paint for two long mornings.  Unfortunately, I wasn't happy with the first painting and despite it being framed and at the tent, I did not enter it.  I think my judgement was good as the one I did enter received an Honorable Mention from the judge!!  Yea!!  The photo is a bit yellower than the actual work but gives you an idea.

 

At the end we had a successful event, a bit more money in the FMBAA coffers than last year, which is a surprise.  The caliber of artist was amazing and selling their art really helped.  I sold mine as well.  My chairmen and workers were great and now we all hope to get back to painting and doing what we love.

 

Next year is an unknown...I want a co-chair to train to take over my job...and no one is stepping up.  We will have a wrap meeting and talk about what to do.

 

For now, back to painting and the usual here.  I am working on paintings to enter several shows. George is playing bridge with Joan and is enjoying it a lot.  Some sunsets for now and then back to walking and biking when it finally gets cool.

 

 

Of two minds.....

   Studio Work         Paint the Beach Work

 

Experimental art beckons to me with paintings waiting for that last touch of the brush.  My gear is stacked and ready for tomorrow at the gallery and the start of a new season of Fort Myers Beach Art Association.  We gather to paint and inspire each other, hoping to produce a masterpiece.  I am starting with a blank paper tomorrow...who knows where it will go?

 

And here on the table are the parts and pieces for the Paint the Beach plein air festival which occurs in two weeks.  Wednesday the chairmen will meet here so I can pass along some items but more will follow as the prizes, posters, and supplies needed are stacked in readiness.  The roster is full with artists eagerly awaiting the week of painting fun.  We hope that the construction along Estero Blvd won't discourage visitors and buyers.  The art is well worth any little delay in arriving!!

 

It's busy this week with painting, picking up my new car, meetings, helping the Beach Elementary students do their plein air work (to be displayed at the tent), a beach party on Friday and more.

 

On Saturday I'll paint in Ding Darling along the trail.  Past years have been enjoyable and successful as I've sold the painting right off the easel.  What fun!!

 

 

 

 

Saturday....

What a great weekend! Mitch helped me do the grocery shopping for the weekend dinner and visit from Steve & Karen. Good exercise for him in prep for school  Monday and gave me a leg up on food prep.
I made the chocolate lasagna recipe for dessert which turned out to be too rich for most of us. Vote was to use our old chocolate cream dessert recipe next time....which everyone loves.
After spending the morning prepping diner I was off to the KIA to a brush making class. Too funny as it was all potters making brushes for slips and glazes. There was a pile of pelts and bamboo for handles to use in the process.   It was a lot harder than you'd think to get the bundles of hairs tied tightly for glueing.
Wild boar was the most slippery. Fox and deer difficult too. But I made three and now that I know how may try some other materials to make texture brushes.
The family was here for dinner, missing Paige and Allie, with all of us enjoying the company. Cutter was his usual goofy self with Ranger avoiding him when possible. Fortunately the other two dogs stayed home!!!
Now to the fall migration where I look forward to some painting days and a bit of beach time.

Share from Pixlr

#pixlr

With the boys.....

My travels since returning from out west have been 20 minute trips between our daughter's home and ours.  Ethan and I held down the fort while Mitch had his surgery at Mayo and kept mom and dad busy out there with him. 

Each day I awoke early, or earlier if the dogs barked, and got E off to school at 7.  After that I fed the dogs and myself then drove back home to take care of things there.  Piles of laundry took a while and then I began to pack for our migration South. Back to be there when E returned home from school and then the dinner, homework and a bit of chatting before bed.  He is an easy kid and we had a good time though I am pooped from the routine.

After almost two weeks of that, Mitch came home, doing very well and I began my daily duties helping him as he recovers.  George is happy to have me at home by late dinner time and I am happy to sleep in my own bed again after about 5 weeks of not doing so.  I spend my time tending to Mitch, doing a bit of beading and reading, and today catching up using my own pc.

No art at all but I've been thinking about  new projects and materials I want to try. There is a huge pile of stuff to take south piling up.    And  Paint the Beach takes place in a month and there are many last minute things to check and do.  I will be happy to just be out painting in the sunshine again, no thought of prizes of exhibits at all!!!

Austin Lake views are good too!

Austin Lake sunrise 9/20/15.

Home again Home again......

We are here at the lake again and catching up with everything.  Fortunately we brought the nice weather along with us and we are enjoying the last warm days of September.

 I am staying at Kris's house with Ethan, overseeing homework and toting him to football practice, while they are with Mitchell at Mayo Clinic.  He is having his final surgery on Friday and then staying a week to recuperate and gain strength.  This will be a fusion of a section of his spine, correction of some curvature and I believe a rod.  No more brace, which he is very happy about.  The doc is the best at Mayo and head of the department so outlook is very optimistic, but still a worry for all of us.  He is in our thoughts and prayers all day these days.  Mitch himself is very upbeat an attitude I hope he retains.  When he returns after the surgery, I will be with him during the day for three weeks.

Assuming all goes well, Mitch will be back playing BB next spring with his team!!!!

For now, I am back to the laundry..mountains of it!!!!!!

Pronghorn out our window

Sent from Samsung Mobile.

The elk resting outside our hotel window in mammoth hot springs hotel

Sent from Samsung Mobile.

Hail hail the gangs all here

Sent from Samsung Mobile.

Grand Teton National Park

What a beautiful piece of land this area is here in Wyoming.  Thank goodness Rockefeller had the foresight to preserve this for everyone and the persistence to convince the government to make it a park.  The air is clear and clean and the lakes crystal clear.  The majestic mountains are the backdrop for every look west.

 

We have enjoyed our two days here hiking and learning about the area from rangers and guides.  Yesterday we hiked a trail for a couple of hours then  boarded a rubber raft to float down the Snake River with a very knowledgeable guide.  Grant grew up just a short distance from the river and now guides during the summer then certifies ski instructors, all over the world,  during the winter.  What a life!  He handled the long oars with skill as he guided us and kept a running commentary about the river and  the wildlife.  The trip ended with a black bear sighting.  Dinner was at the Jackson Lodge where we met a bartender who had owned the Beached Whale and Doc Fords in Ft.Myers Beach…two of our favorite restaurants. Small world.

 

We also met the sister of our neighbor and sailing pal in the restroom of a visitors center!!

 

Today started with a bear sighting upon a far ridge.  We think a grizzly.  We ran into the visitor center and signed up for a ranger led hike to Hidden Falls, (it seems every park has one) then to find breakfast.  The first choice was jenny Lake Lodge but it proved to be very expensive.  Nights there start at $675. Or so and the dining room matches!!  The Chuck Wagon in Moose Junction was more our speed so we enjoyed a quick breakfast sitting in a tent…a little chilly but good.

 

Back at the visitor center we met up with the ranger for the boat ride across Jenny Lake then a hike up the mountain to see the falls.  It was very pretty and getting warmer and warmer.  We started the day with about four layers on and peeled as the sun warmed.  George and I took the hike and boat back while Menz’s hiked around the lake.  Timing wasn’t much different and we ended having our picnic lunch together while chatting with a young couple from Holland who were touring the west for 11 weeks.  Both Geologists.

 

Dennis and I said enough hiking!!!   So back to our cabin then out to the pizza place by the lakeshore where we enjoyed the pizza again and played trivia.  Lots of laughs and a great end to our stay here.

 

Tomorrow we move to Snow King Resort and our last night here in Wyoming.  We’ll do a few sights in Jackson Hole, the tram and lunch and some galleries too.  Then a quick two days on the road and home again with wonderful memories and photos.  We are lucky to have such good friends and traveling companions as Dennis and Dale.  We have “Dennis the planner”,  “Dale the Foodie”, Data Man George and me the occasional artist…..between us we do a great trip!!!

 

 

Tetons

 

Tetons

Grand Teton Hidden Falls

Tetons

A Jenny Lake View

Tetons

Looking at the mountains

Tetons

George and I at Hidden Falls, Grand Tetons.  Me with hat hair!!!

Grand Teton view from Colter Bay marina where we are staying

Adventures continue...

We spent the last two nights in Yellowstone and today saw old faithful and several springs and hot pots. Amazing landscape of contrasts.

Now we are in a rustic resort on lake Jackson in the Tetons. Log cabin with no tv or WiFi again. Here in the lounge it is available, however.

We had a great pizza by the shore of the lake, saw the sunset with a glass of wine in our hands, and toasted the good day.

Tomorrow we will hike a bit in the south area before the raft trip down the Snake River. The Tetons are beautiful and I am looking forward to seeing more of them.

Bison near the roadside in Yellowstone

Why go anywhere to see elk?...outside our hotel room on the grass!

Waterfall from Yellowstone Lake

Geyser Erupting at Yellowstone

Parks adventure...

We have been in Yellowstone for two days and tomorrow too with no WiFi at all..or phone or tv! Presently in Gardiner hotel using theirs while Menz's do fantasy football.

Park is magnificent and wildlife amazing. Today we 2 calls a herd of bison and had some very near us. Hotel has elk who lounge on the lawn. Stag calls to does even at night. His antlers are awesome.

Haven't seen any bears here....maybe tomorrow.

Am doing this blog with two fingers on my fire George is downloading photos and hopefully can send some.

Weather is cold in morning but sun warms us up, as does climbing the trail or the over 200 steps at the hot springs. Phew.

Tomorrow we move to Get one for three nights. Raft trip planned and may add horseback ride.

Missing the family but having a great adventure with dear friends.

Fort Hall

Pocatello,Id

Early morning shadow hikers at Zion

Sent from Samsung Mobile.

Zion hikers..

Zion

Zion

Zion

We just had a snack lunch our first day here and had some eager friends.  Both Dale and I had nuts and consequently squirrels in our laps!!

 

Zion-Narrows

Zion

Zion

At Zion through the window in the mile long tunnel

 

Coming in to Zion from the east travels through the tunnel created through the mountain.  Our resort is on this side, the only vacancy  we could find when we switched our plans around.  It turned out to be a very nice place, roomy and with lots of amenities.  The only problem is that this is It on this end of the park and there is a drive to get into the park rather than the quick zip from Springdale.

 

 

This morning all but me went to hike just outside the tunnel.  It turned out to be more of a challenge than I wanted so I’m doing our laundry and writing in total peace!!

 

 

 

 

Three days in Zion National Park....

We moved to  Zion and began our exploration of this beautiful park.  Menz’s had been here before so knew the things to see and do first.  We have hiked a couple of trails every day enjoying the spectacular scenery here.  Except for Glacier, this has been my favorite.

 

Yesterday the three adventurers hiked the Narrows, which is a gorge cut by the Virgin River.  I stayed behind and enjoyed the time painting the trail head.  Because the trail is in the river, shoes are a must.  George rented the water shoes and boots to save his own and was glad of it.  Despite his assurance that he wouldn’t get wet..he did.  Camera and all.  Being his usual self, he forged ahead into deeper water and got doused.  We bought him an appropriate T-shirt!!

 

The photos are wonderful from that adventure.  My painting not so much.  It’s back to wc on wc paper and no more experiments with materials on the road!!

 

After spending two hours at the trail head painting, I took the shuttle to the lodge and had a nice lunch on the roof top patio.  We all met up at the visitors center and drove to Springdale for lunch (theirs) and a bit of shopping, a quick nap(them), and a stop at the library.  Our next adventure was an overland tour of the area ending atop a mesa.  The ghost town of Gilford (I think) was interesting as part of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid was filmed there.  It was used as Emma’s home if you remember the movie.  We learned a little about the geology of the area on the tour and enjoyed bumping along the trails.

 

Today is our last here and we’ve decided to take a break and catch up. Laundry, repack, and general regrouping is on the plan…then a little down time with cards by the pool.  Cooler weather is ahead at Yellowstone which we should reach in two days.

 

A few photos of Zion starting with the big horn sheep who greeted us as we entered….

 

Under the waterfall on a Zion hike

Sent from Samsung Mobile.

At Zion National Park hiking.  Lovely setting..hiker, not so much!!

Sent from Samsung Mobile.

Sent from Samsung Mobile.

capitol reef

Hoodoos hikers

At Bryce Canyon..

The last two days have been spent exploring Bryce and today Capitol Reef and Escalante.  The scenery is stunning in the Reef area and along the HI way to the parks.  We’ve been starting very early so we can hike in the cooler part of the day and it was a good thing!  Going down the trail and back up again among the hoodoos was strenuous for me and  sweaty for all of us.  Beautiful to see them close up though so very worth it.  It took quite a while so after lunch and poking around the grounds here, we played cards again.  Girls won!!  2-0 for the trip!!

 

This morning we left early again…6:30, and drove to Capitol Reef Park.  It took about 2.5 hrs. along winding roads highlighting the canyon and red cliffs.  Such interesting landscape with all the many layers exposed.  Strange to see are the balls of lava that were blown into the layers then are exposed with erosion.

We did another hike into slot canyons along a dry creek bed.  I turned around early and returned while the others went to the lookout.  With so many rocks to climb over and slogging through sand up and down the mountains, it is a workout for me!!   The small farm in the valley is a museum now and we stopped for a picnic lunch then topped it off with ice cream before starting off to Escalante.

 

Arriving in Escalante we visited the ranger station then a petrified forest.  While the others hiked again, I stayed below and sketched.  It was a nice way to spend my time though the sketch stinks.  We returned to town and found the café recommended to us and had an excellent meal that made all of us happy.  Now to pack for our move to Zion tomorrow for another three days of exploration.

 

Hoodoos area..

Glacier Bears!!

These two greeted us as we drove into the entrance at Many Glacier the other day…..

 

Bryce Canyon

Bryce Canyon

Bryce Canyon

After our night in Salt Lake area we arrived here this afternoon and were able to get into the rooms early.  This lodge is just outside the entrance to Bryce so is very handy for sightseeing.  After a nice lunch we drove into the park and began to look at the beautiful area of canyons and hoodoos( the eroded columns of stone in the canyon).  Red soil and rocks are outstanding with the green pines and blue skies here in Utah.

 

A short hike at the very end of the park took us through pine forest and around the rim of the canyon.  Stunning views which I will post.  Because we wanted to hear a ranger talk on the sunset trail, we took a break at the lodge nearby.  The building was built in the 20’s and is one of the few original buildings remaining.  Log walls and cedar shingles make it very picturesque and  it would be wonderful to paint.  So far I’ve only sketched one day..bad girl!!  

 

The ranger talk was interesting with bits about the geology and park itself along the way.  In front of us the hoodoos were changing as the light waned with the setting sun.  Such colors in those rocks!  Tomorrow we are hiking down among the hoodoos early while it is cool and the sun isn’t too hot.  Although it isn’t a long hike it is up and down the mountain.

 

glacier