Just to update...

 This entry is for posterity...

The Covid 19 virus is ramping up again after slowing some at the end of the lock down.  States opened and directed their citizens each in their own way.  Masks or no masks are a huge argument everywhere though the scientists say they help along with social distancing and lots of hand washing.  Michigan was strict and people were angry but our cases did go down. 

Currently Florida is high, Georgia..all republican states.  The virus has become a political issue.  Much has been learned since the first cases struck but now over 170,000 people have died.  Yes, that number is correct.  Having a comorbidity increases the likelihood of dying from this monster

There is a lot of controversy over whether or not schools should be in person or virtual.  Each seems to be different.  Portage is on line while Mitchell is going to his dorm at Western for classes.  Not sure how long that will last as many schools have closed again soon after opening.

And politics and the election is a nightmare.  Biden has chosen Kamala Harris as running mate.Don the Con is getting worse every day and spouts evil.  He is loosing per polls so is now sabotaging the post office to prevent mail in votes getting counted.  They are tossing sorters, picking up boxes and slowing everything down.   I hope to heaven he doesn't manage to win or the country is doomed.

The longest summer...

 On a positive note, the weather here has been remarkable.  Beautiful days, few storms, no tornadoes.  We have been so lucky to be here on the lake to enjoy the water and cooling breeze.

George and I have both been careful and discriminating on what we do.  A bit of shopping for groceries, a few art supplies and only a few people seen outside the family.  The big spurge was for Mitchell's graduation party last weekend.  It was outside  and people for the most part social distanced but few wore masks.  Food was prepackaged including the Chik Fillet main course and there was lots of sanitizer everywhere.   

Mitch was all smiles as he chatted up friends and family celebrating his achievement.  It was a beautiful day and breezy though hot.   Karen and I helped a lot and were pooped the following day!!   Now I am laying low until we are sure no virus was spread despite our pretty careful behavior.

Pickleball is still going strong and I am doing some painting with the plein air group.   This small oil painting done at Pickerel Lake Park was sold to a classmate of ours.  So nice.

I've made a few cards and will begin a painting Karen asked me to do for a friend.  Since we plan to go south after all at the end of October, I have a few more chances to paint plein air and mess in the studio before everything gets packed up.  We are very much missing traveling and planning our trips.  That is a long way off.  Crossing our fingers that our health remains good and no virus invades our home!!

Fourth of July weekend looks beautiful!!

We are getting ready for having fun on the fourth!  Buelows are coming tomorrow for a long weekend on the lake.  Kris and Mitch will join us while Ethan and Jeff are in the Chicago area for BB tournament.  Every weekend is a different city for them.

A little more is open now with masks recommended.  Michigan is pretty good at keeping cases contained but those going to bars are lax and spreading the virus.  We still haven't gone out to eat but enjoy take out occasionally.  Pickleball is up and running to make George happy.  My plein air group will begin next week to meet.  Fortunately that is all outdoors and safely distanced.  I'm looking forward to joining them when I can.  The Saturday meetings and long drives sometimes keep me away.

The small watercolor   5x7  paintings were finished and delivered...

I practiced a bit with oils and painted this view from my walks along East Shore..10x12

These are strange times...not only the virus which is disrupting people's lives but the politics of the country is distressing.  I can't wait for this all to be over.  Ignoring it all seems like putting my head in the sand but following it all closely makes me a bit crazy!!!  I very much miss the anticipation of travel and fellowship of friends as well.   What a very strange time.......

Saga continues......

Mother's Day has come and gone with only a few celebrations around.  We still are under stay at home orders and restaurants are closed here except for take out.   Contacts with the family have been mostly on video as we are all being careful and of course the Gettings were quarantined.

Memorial Day this weekend and finally some nice weather!!  Boats are in the water and ready.  Hopefully we can enjoy some outdoor time and maybe even see friends outside.  What a nice thing that would be.

We have passed the time doing chores around the house, walking,  puzzles, games, painting and reading.  Golf is open now and George is happy about that.

So far only Jeff and Kris had a bout with this virus.  I hope our careful living pays off...I hate to be sick, let alone be in the hospital.  We are fortunate to live where we do and be able to mostly enjoy life as usual.  We don't eat out much normally so don't miss that at all.  Home hair cuts, and a lot of cooking though!!

I am painting the small watercolors still and will post here when finished.  When doing something on commission it takes me a lot longer to get it to the level I think they want.  No quick studies here!!

Lake view......

After a 20 hour trip and 18.75 hrs of driving, mostly George, we are home at the lake.  We were exhausted to say the least but the trip itself was not bad with less traffic.  Pit stops were swift and food was OK eaten standing up.  We were met with a beeping carbon monoxide alarm which was cause for concern.  Turned out it was telling us to buy a new one!  Whew, I was nervous abut going to bed. 

Kris had dropped off the basic food items and turned on the water which was great.  When we got the text later that Jeff was isolated for Covid 19, we had to wipe it all down before adding what we brought up.  Poor Jeff was feeling bad and had the test done.  It was negative but the doc said the tests are unreliable and they treat any with the symptoms as if positive.  The house is on lock down now.  Jeff is doing ok and hopefully will recover soon.  Also hope no one else in the family gets this vicious virus. 

I am still working on unpacking things.  Brought a lot back as I think we will be here late into the fall.  The CDC expects a resurgence of the virus in the fall and I won't travel through this again.  Hard to predict anything but I hope a vaccine is developed soon and that it works. 

Art gear is next and organizing the studio space here.  I'm looking forward to breaking out the paints a bit.  Kathy sends an inspirational photo each week and we work on something to share.  Nice to hear from everyone and it keeps us busy.

We received our credit and bonus from the cancelled cruise.  Have until 2022 to use it.  Since we're not even sure we can do the one next March, we are not picking anything out just yet.  I won't sail again until there is a vaccine.

And we're off.....

Very early tomorrow we will take off for Michigan.  We are armed with sanitizer, masks, gloves and anything else I can think of to keep us safe.  With food on board, we will only stop for gas and toilets.  Hopefully we can maintain our health while getting back and closer to family.

Although in our isolated bubble here we have felt pretty safe, the rumblings of opening up the state too early make me anxious to leave.  Too much opportunity to spread this vicious virus.  Georgia, SC and Tennessee, all republican governors are opening Friday and doctors are expressing their dismay.  This is not policy advised by health experts but our pres and others hoping for commerce.  I am thunderstruck at the people who rave about the government .....just blown away.  I have no words, or words that I can write for public consumption anyway.

So off we go with our usual load of gear.  A few paintings for Karen, a few supplies to use this summer and some scotch to sample with the family once we can meet again.


I've done a few little art projects.....

 5x7 wc orchid

  5x8 wc over gelli print

  11x14 collage

This collage used a mask pattern, threads from my sewing, triangles snipped from Paige's masks and a suggestion of the Covid-19 virus.

Covid-19 Virus Stay at Home......

This has only gotten worse for the country.  We are safe and healthy here in Florida, and family is all fine.  I only hope that continues for everyone.  As the hospitals fill and more deaths occur we are all worried about Paige as an ER nurse, and Allie..the independent one, insisting on staying in Indiana with friends.  We obviously did not leave on the 8th but plan to do so at the end of the month. It will be a quick as we can trip with lots of precautions.

Easter is Sunday and the experts say it will be a bad peak of deaths.  Hopefully the curve will begin to flatten after and things will start to get better.  The orders to stay at home are unevenly enforced around the states.  People are disregarding them...still some churches are holding full services, endangering the members who mistakenly think they are protected by Christ.  Not so.   Essential workers are keeping us in food, mail and other necessities.  And of course the health care workers and everyone involved with the hospitals are heroes.  The sad administration has mishandled the whole business, lying, taking no responsibility and using briefings as campaign rally.  I cannot stand to listen any longer.  I can only pray that we elect a strong, moral president in the fall.

I am still coughing which scares the people we pass as we walk each day.  Thankful it is nice weather here in Florida, we exercise at least in the morning.   I spent a lot of time making masks..around 22 I think.  My patterns progressed from the simple pleated style to a fairly fitted cup style and one that looks like a typical cloth surgeons mask for Paige.  I felt it was at least something I could do.

 She was happy to get them to wear over their N95 masks and protect it.  This shortage of protective gear  and ventilators it terrible and is putting so many at risk of infection.  Every day we hear of health care workers dying of Covid-19.  May Paige be protected.

So we walk, cook, play a few games and keep ourselves amused.  There is a bit of work to do for the art organizations and George arranged for work to be done at the gallery while it is shut down.  Some is being done, but the painters were non essential and will not work.  I will not let him go out except for food.

I have just now put the studio back in painting mode and have started a collage.  The groups are working and posting their artwork to keep the moral up.  It's hard to get into this but would be a nice change from mask making and checking the news.

Hopefully the country can get back to normal in May..it's very hard to have everything shut down but this is the only way to help.  They expect another wave of illness to hit in the fall sadly.  Meanwhile they work on getting more test kits (only those with symptoms or direct exposure are tested now) and ultimately a vaccine.  No cruises for me until that happens and we get it. 

Speaking of cruises..the industry is hard hit with ships being quarantined, deaths on board  and bans from ports.  Princess is doing their best but this long term hold with cause havoc with the business.  We look forward to the day we can sail again..

Unsettled times...

Things have not gone as planned this fine spring.   As the reports of Corona 19 got worse and worse in February we began to question our upcoming cruise scheduled for April 11.  We were not overly concerned but I did purchase some wipes and sanitizer just to be extra careful..more than normal.

The art fair went off as planned on Feb 23 and was well attended.  I sold a nice amount and was pleased.  Next event was the SanCap Council exhibit at Big Arts on Sanibel.  Everyone was excited to be in the new gallery.  On March 3 we received over 125 paintings and juried, judged and hung them that same day.  I was exhausted from being there from early morning until after six.  It was tweaked the next day then the reception was on Friday.  Lots of people attended and the place was busy and looked great.  I was pleased to win second place!! 

This is my mixed media painting titled "Dream".

My chest started feeling a bit tight on Saturday;, then a cough on Sunday.  We still went to the farmers market and bought some fresh produce.  On Monday I had a bit of a runny nose and more coughing but went to my watercolor class and enjoyed it.  Monday night...felt bad and went to bed for the next two days with headache, cough, aches etc.  I believe it was the flu...a friend had come down the same time and her's was Type A so I was pretty sure that was mine as well.    I began to feel a bit better each day but stayed home and rested.  The news about the virus got worse and worse.  Our cruise was cancelled...all for the next 60 days.    Big Arts decided to close and arrangements were made to take down the show.  Now everything is cancelled and we are asked to stay home.  I have only gone to the beach on George's birthday.  He has been shopping and doing things as the gallery.  I worry.

I'm not feeling too well today, still coughing and tight chest though I don't think it is causing breathing difficulties.  Hopefully it will just progress and I will get better.

So plans are to go home on the 8th.  It won't be as sunny but I would rather be near family.  It looks like this situation is going to get much worse before it gets better.  I just pulled fabric to make some masks.  What a terrible state for the world and country to be in these days.  People don't believe there is really a threat....foolish ones.

Mitchell and 6 scoops!@@

Kris and Mitchell

Catching up again!

February was so much fun with all the visiting and events happening.  Not much down time but that's ok.  Kris and Mitchell came in early  for a short week.  We had fun visiting all their favorite places and eating our way through.  One day we had lunch at Love Boat Ice cream and enjoyed just their great flavors.  Mitchell had a huge bowl of 6 scoops and finished it all!!

Next up were some great friends from Kalamazoo.  We had Menz's, Ree's, Joanne, and Esborns join us for a fun day here.  Just a lot of food and talk all day.  It was so nice to see the Ree's who are in Georgia and Esborns who are in Ohio.  We wished all 8 of the Gs could be together again.

Esborns left and the rest were overnight here...very cozy but we all slept pretty well. Next day we had a simple breakfast and then were off to the beach to show off the gallery and the quirky town.  We had lunch at Doc Fords for a water view after grabbing a beer at Bonita Bill's.  A taste of FMB!!   Dinner was just simple as we were pretty full and game of cards or two.  And then it was just Ree's and Menz's.  We drove to Captiva and showed them my exhibit there, through Ding Darling National Park, had more food at Bubble Room and generally a very nice day.  Menz's left and had a long ride home due to an accident on alligator ally.  Thanks to Dennis we all could ride in his big van..lots of driving but thanks a bunch, Dennis!!

And then there were just the Ree's....and off they went the next morning and back to Georgia.  It was such fun to have them all visit.  Perhaps again one of these days!!

No rest for the wicked...I had to prepare for the Art Fair on Sanibel and had my car packed Saturday morning.  We also had a reception at FMBAA for the Mexican group on Saturday evening which was well attended and lots of fun.  All the beautiful paintings bring back such great memories of that trip!!

The Art Fair went well for me and I had record sales.  Mine are not framed and some not matted so are great values.  I will need to get busy for next year's sale...paint paint!!

The SCAL council show received on March 3 and since I was co chair it was a VERY long day for me.  From before 8am until 6pm and the hanging was complete.  This was the first on in the new gallery and we really accepted too many paintings despite declining over 50!  Next year we will select even less as the installation looks a bit crowded.  I was happy that judge Kathleen Conover selected my painting for second place.  She was surprised to find out it was mine since I hadn't said one word while she deliberated.  It is called Dream....  mixed media  S650.

We are scheduled for a cruise on April 11 to Copenhagen, 14 days on the Sky Princess.  Because of the Corona Virus many are cancelling their trips.  Princess gave us until the end of the month to decide if we wanted to cancel and put the money on a different cruise.  So far no, but we'll be watching the news.  A trip to Italy for Paige and Thomas was cancelled and I'm sure it won't be the only one for friends that changes.

Stay healthy out there friends!!

What have we been up to???!!!

Shocking to see how much time has gone by since that last post but things here in FM have been busy for us.

In November I hung my exhibit at the Captiva Yacht Club which looked very nice.  We hung all that I had with me..17 in all.  We attended a dinner where they introduced me and I was able to chat about my work.  When I picked up the paintings at the end of the month I found that two had sold,  both pastels and one a beach scene and one of umbrella tables in Times Square.  Fun to see them go to good homes.

In early December I hung two pieces in the Captiva Community Center but wasn't able to attend the reception due to it being at the same time as the FMBAA potluck.  Since I ran the Dirty Santa exchange I had to be there ...lots of fun for everyone!!!  Our  Art Divine sale started the following day and more art went up.  I sold 5 pieces I think...nice.

Captiva Yacht Club

About that time my pc died a slow death!!  yikes.  George worked very hard to retrieve my files when it was working and it looks like he was successful.  Thankful for the back up drive for sure.   I don't have all my photos on this new pc yet but will slowly build up the files.   We ordered the new one to arrive at Kris's while we were in Michigan for Christmas.  George spent a lot of time reloading everything so I could be up to speed when we returned.

Christmas was fun, family get together held at Kris's and at the lake then we visited Guitars and ended at Steve's new house.  It was in flux with all the work going on but we were able to help some and visit while doing so.  Allie was there with Alex, only missing were Paige and Thomas this year.

I'll see what photos I can dig up from our visits...sketchy for sure.

Back in Fm we have been busy as always with FMBAA, exhibits, a workshop, an open house, and I am working to have my paintings ready for my exhibit in studio II and again at Captiva for an Invitational Exhibit.  Almost done with that.

My painting Stormy Sunrise is in the Winter Juried Show at FMBAA and received a small award.  Nice, pastels are doing ok!!!!

We're looking forward to February...Kris and Mitchell will visit as well as Rees, Menzs, Eisborns, and perhaps Joanne. a week later.   March should be calm, oh, except for another exhibit on Sanibel which I co chair!!  Then we can relax on another cruise ...yes, on the new Sky across the Atlantic to Copenhagen.  We'll see some new sights and enjoy exploring the new ship.  And I'm planning the South American adventure with so much to research. .......yea!