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!!