Plein air today!

The sun was shining and the breeze was blowing and it was a perfect morning to sit outside and draw. The wildflowers are out in abundance. Here are the sweet little Spring-beauties.

Cutleaf Toothwort.

Trout-lily. One of my favorites.

Bloodroot

Another favorite, Wild-ginger.

Here is her little flower, always hiding.

All the young leaves sprouting against the blue sky.

And the daffodills showing off throughout the woods. The chapel garden showing through in the background.

Lois enjoying the sketching session.

Look at these budding leaves!

The color of the Virginia Bluebell is like no other.

Hundreds of them!

A truly relaxing time.

Just sitting and sketching.

Making papers

Spent most of the last couple of days with my pile of books and paper-creating ideas for my class next week. I seem to favor these washy ones with texture. Then last night, it was out to dinner with my "club girls". There's seven of us now; friends for 55 years. And today is pen & ink class and it's a beautiful morning, so maybe we will sketch plein air! And then there's the garden...it's calling me for some attention.

Back to Sunday...

Miss Danielle served lunch to the bears. Some were too short to reach the table, so she gave them pillows to sit on. The little brown wooden chairs were mine when I was a child.

mmmmm...banana and french fries for Grandpa Bear.

"And", Henri' says, "what do you have?"

Yesterday

Where did Monday go? And speaking of that subject (time escaping), I'm have a poem started about that for Friday's class. I think the class in the Renaissance program at St. Xavier's prompted it too. The theme is aging. Did have calligraphy class in the afternoon anyway, and made this wonderful little book (or card if you choose to use it for that). Now to decide what to letter in it! Today, working on ideas for my next collage class. Lots to do!

A day away...

Headed out yesterday for a "one night escape" at the Marriott Resort in Lincolnshire. The package includes tickets to the theatre, dinner, an overnight stay, and Sunday champagne brunch.


A sunny morning when we left and everything was turning green. Delicate new sprouts on all the roadside trees anxiously filling in the landscape among the evergreens. Fishermen out and ready at the sloughs. Fields of green with a multitude of wild dandelions couldn't prepare us for the field of wild cars on a Saturday on the expressway.


Arriving in Lincolnshire, it seemed to be filled with spring-green willow trees and this driveway leading to the resort is lined on both sides with blooming forsythia.

The view from our window.

Watching the birds.

I think they were trying to nest somewhere on the building near our windowsill.

"hello there!"

and the bees.

They are doing a big renovation and the new carpeting in the endless hallways is exciting and colorful!

The King's Wharf bar and restaurant. We enjoyed our dinner here, before the theatre. And then, the production of "Fiddler On The Roof" was outstanding!

Nautical decor in the bar. And this morning Champagne Brunch with an array of food. You couldn't have asked for more. And it was delicious!

The ducks sitting on the outdoor pool cover. Waiting...

"Collage Collective"

The beautiful McCord Gallery is hosting this collage exhibit and I couldn't wait to see some friends that I haven't seen for a while. The building looks so stately and beautiful lit up at night.

The inspiration behind all of this, Laura Lein-Svencner.

And her beautiful artwork.

Eve, answering a crowd of questions all evening.

Some of Eve's pieces. I adore "OZ".

The rooms were full of people but I managed to squeeze Barb in with her wonderful collages.

I absolutely love these little "miniatures" she did!

Oooooooooooooo.

And Mary Beth greeting everyone with her warm smile. I regret that I didn't get back to take a photo of her work. Next time! Anyway, it was an absolutely lovely reception.

A new day

Feeling restored today, so went to poetry class at St. Xavier's this morning. I really like it. Yesterday though, I slept and read the entire day. Here's my blankie and my book. Several years ago, when I was in a class in Door County and hubby had some time to kill, he went to a book signing at the "Peninsula Bookman" in Fish Creek www.peninsulabookman.com . He bought the book, got it signed for me, read it, loved it, and has been after me ever since to read it. It's a mystery called "Destroying Angels" by Gail Lukasik. This is the book I chose to start yesterday and, inbetween napping, I couldn't put it down. I'm about half way done. It takes place in Door County and even though names and places are used fictitiously, I recognize them. My mother and I began going to Door County in 1960 and continued to go for a few years before I got married, and so I know all the good ol' spots. Hadn't been there is years, until hubby and I started going back in the 90's. Now I need to check out the author's website to see what else she's been up to! www.gaillukasik.com