31 Day Blog Challenge Day 4: Agawa Canyon Snow Train

Agawa Canyon Snow Train

March 2003

I retired from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan in February of 2003 after 33 years.  It was an exciting time and I was thinking of things to do.  I had taken the Agawa Canyon Train during the summer of 2000 with my husband.  It was a very beautiful trip, but I wanted to try the snow train.  I looked it up and there was a weekend trip at the beginning of March.

The tour started with a drive from Detroit to Sault St. Marie, Ontario Canada.  On the way we stopped in Frankenmuth for Lunch and did some shopping.  I found a yarn shop and bought some beautiful yarn and some needles.  I figured I would spend the time on the ride knitting a scarf.  You see, I did not know a soul on this tour.  It was just something I wanted to do.

We arrived in Sault St. Marie in time for Dinner.  By the time we arrived I pretty much knew everyone on the bus, we laughed and talked.  Another tourist was knitting and we gabbed about yarn and patterns, it was fun.

Saturday we boarded the bust to go to the train Algoma Central Station.  The trip is 228 miles round trip.  During the summer you can de-train and walk trails for an hour.  Winter is much too cold and dangerous so you cannot de-train; however, the scenery is so beautiful it does not matter.

This was the second trip I took by myself and I just loved every minute.  I say little bunny prints in the snow, a train trellis covered in show with the train chugging along, families laughing and enjoying a really good lunch; guides giving us a complete history of the area and the train.

This tour was a retirement present to myself and I still smile at the wonderful memories.

see you tomorrow

31 day Blog Challenge: Day 3 the trip that started it all

Washington DC

My husband Donald died in January 2001.  It was very sudden and a shock to the system.  We had spent years traveling to Toronto, Tennessee, and on various Caribbean Cruises.  In fact we had plans to go to Hilton Head in at the end of February of that year.

I tried to find ways to fill in the time and space that was left with his absence.  I started writing poetry again after many years.  I submitted one of the poems to a "vanity" book.  The one where your poem is picked and published in a book along with thousands of others.  I was invited to attend the National Poetry Conference in Washington DC in July 2001.  I decided to stretch myself and go.  I would be traveling by myself for the first time.  I took the train because I absolutely love train travel.  We traveled the Shenandoah Valley and it was breathtaking.  As I departed from the train I heard someone call my name.  I look around and thought how ironic is this to travel all this way and see someone I know.  A friend from work Teedie Richardson and her grandson were traveling by train to the same event.  So we spent the whole time together and it was so much fun.

I was so proud of myself.  I had traveled many miles from home on my own.  Spent 4 days among thousands of strangers, got a blue ribbon, became closer to a co-worker I had know for years and toured a City that I have come to love.

Here is one of the poems I submitted:

Life's Highway

Life's highway is tricky; full of pot holes and curves.

I trudge along dodging dead ends and detours.

As I  make the journey, I look over my shoulder,

Just a quick glance

to make sure you're still there.

Because as I travel this long road

I often think how lonely the trip would be

without you.

Yes, this trip started a love affair with travel and stretching myself.  Providing wonderful memories and happiness.

see you tomorrow

31 days of Blogging day 2

Meatballs in Venice

First Meal in Orvieto - Hearty Soup 

Pizza with Truffle

To say I have no real plan for each day's post would be putting it mildly; but, I have a treasure trove of things to share so it should be a lot of fun.  Anyhoo, when I traveled to Orvieto, Italy in 2012 to take part of an Adventures in Italy art retreat I had no idea what to expect.  The backstory to this trip is pretty interesting.  I was originally supposed to take this trip in 2011, but was diagnosed with Breast Cancer and had to cancel.  The operators of the program allowed me to roll my deposit over to the next year and I was able to attend a class taught by Tracie Lyn Huskamp.  I travelled alone to Philadelphia, PA and met up with Tracie. One of my classmates Maryann met us in Rome. She showed up how to keep visual record of our meals.  Did I remember to take a picture of every meal, no.  However, I did capture a lot.  Today I am showing three.  

Picture number one;  Meatballs in Venice.  Oh my they were so yummy.  The bread was toasted with Olive Oil and the tomato sauce was sheer perfection.

Picture number 2:  Hearty bean soup with boar sausage was the first mean I had in Orvieto.  After nearly 24 hours of travel this soup soothed my very soul.  It has white beans, carrots, onions and sausage with a thick broth.  I wanted to lick the bowl.

Picture number 3:  We had a free night in Orvieto and went for Pizza.  This one had truffles something I had never tried.  I immediately fell in love with the earthy taste.  I smile now at the memory.

It was fun capturing my meals visually.  Another form of art.  The photo's do not have to be perfectly staged, they do not have to be National Geographic worthy; rather, they just have to record a memory.  

As I write these words I realize that I had 15 years of travel, stretching myself and doing things I never dreamed possible.  Maybe tomorrow I will tell you about the first trip that started it all. 

see you tomorrow.

Welcome to the New Year

Floating down the Yangtze River

Welcome to 2017.  It is the first day of the year and I am writing a blog post.  This bodes for a good year of writing.  I think, and I just thought of this now, that I am going to initiate 31 days of blogging.  I do not do vlog's (video's detailing your life), but I do have a blog that I have been neglecting.

My word for the year is actually two words "Pay Attention".  You might wonder why these words are fueling me to be my words of the year.  Simple, I have gone through most of my adult life seeing and yet not really seeing.  For instance, the photo above was taken by me.  There are times when I look through my photo's and cannot believe that I am the photographer; that I captured this moment in time.  Some of my photo's have an ethereal quality such as the one above and some have straight on beauty such as this:

Rose in an Orvieto Garden

I love taking pictures of flowers, standing up close capturing their essence.  The photo's may not be perfect, my rose has been cut off at the top, but there is something about it that calls to me and says pay attention, not to perfection, but to the essence.

So that is how I plan to spend the next year, 2017, paying attention to life.  Not the the perfection, but to the very essence that fuels each day and makes me want to embrace more.  

See you tomorrow.

Secret Sister Happy Mail from Galina

Gel Prints from my Secret Sister

Small book, Watercolor paper, Chinese Watercolor paint kit and Rice Paper

A few days ago I a wonderful package.  It was from my Secret Sister Galina Kariean.  It is so exciting to get a package such as this.  Two or three times a year the Friends in the Box have a Secret Sister exchange.  While I love sharing with the sister I am assigned, I love getting a box from the sister assigned to me.

This box reminds me of my trip to China, the Chinese watercolor pit with Chinese paint brushes is exceptional.  The Japanese Rice paper is perfect for use with the watercolor kit; and the Canson Watercolor paper is also perfect.  I received a book made by Galina and some really colorful and lovely gel prints that I will use in my art journals and on post cards.

Thank you so much Galina for being able to know what I wanted and providing a great surprise.

Merry Christmas everyone, especially Galina.

#Nanojoumo Day 11 Finding Beauty in Chaos

Finding Beauty in Chaos

Given the events of the past week I decided to exercise creative license and not use all of the prompts for Nanojoumo and do things that talk to me.  I have been very tentative when it comes to collage and abstract painting thinking it had to be perfect and this week has taught me that no matter how hard I may try to put things in place that seem perfect, there will always be something to change my trajectory.

As a result, I am going to spend some time practicing with collage and the art of abstract painting.  Again, this is a way to find ways to express the feelings I have inside of me.  I have struggled for years trying to figure this out mainly because I was too literal.  A tree must be a tree, a flower must be pretty, a face with perfect shading.  I see it clearly now, no one has to see what I see, they can have their own interpretation.  I just have to create it.  whew, the weight of a 10 ton whale just lifted off my shoulders.  Who know where this will lead.

Year 67 is going to be great.

#Nanojoumo Days 7-10 All I Have to give you is my heart

My Heart

This spread covers a few days.  I actually worked on over a four day period because I wanted it to say something in light of the events of this week.  I had to get quiet and go within to think about my feelings and how I could translate them into something positive.  Something that would not fall into depths of despair and anger.  

There is some things I need to think about before I address them, it may be in words or it may be in art.  I am just not sure which way it will go because there are words and feelings in me that need to come out.  

#Nanojoumo Day 6

I am a day behind and that is ok.  This has been a busy time for me, but I am still keeping up with doing some kind of art daily.

Quirky Bird - Being Me

Sometimes I feel like this bird, quirky and not part of the norm.  That is ok because I am accepting who and what I am.  I am just being me.  it is a privilege to have art as a release and a way of expression.  I am just learning to appreciate this wonderful privilege.  Knowing that I do not have to be like anyone else, that I can keep learning every day how to use art to heal and express.  How blessed am I?

Also including a copy of my other art project today, putting up my Christmas Village

My Christmas Village.

#Nanojoumo Day 5 - Rosy Cheeks

Rosy Cheeks

This is the first time in a long time that I have done a face.  I am still very insecure (and it is all in my head) when it comes to painting faces; however, I think I am going to practice more.

#Nanojoumo Day 4 - Smashing Pumpkins

Yesterday's painting was a coloring book page combined with a painted background.  Today's is an original painting using acrylic paint and a simple idea.  The one think I appreciate about this challenge is that you can use a wide mixture of media.

My second takeaway is that I am doing this for fun and to establish my daily art practice.  I am learning to be vulnerable and to take that vulnerability to the page.

Third, this month is about fun, I just want to have fun.

Pumpkins Running Away

#Nanojoumo Day 3 - Fashionable

Fashionable

Ok, I really had fun with this one. I was looking through magazines for an image to use as collage fodder for this prompt when I happened upon this gorgeous page in Flow Magazine.  The paper in flow is very thin so I copied it on card stock because I wanted to paint the lady.  I used Derwent Inktense Block for painting and glitter gel pens for shading.  The shading process was color a line and then smear with finger while wet.  The background around my lady is painted with adirondack ink from an ink pad using stencil brushes.  The page that it is glued to was finger painted with acrylic paint.

One thing I like about Nanojoumo is the ability to use many different types of media while creating journal pages.

Until tomorrow.

#Nanojoumo Day 2 Prompt In Bloom

A Bee can never resist a flower in bloom

Today was a real adventure,  I am trying to learn and get comfortable with layering and blending in the colors.  In fact that should be one of my goals for the next 30 days.  I am getting much better drawing flowers.

What will tomorrow bring.

#Nanojoumo day 1 up in a tree.

Up in a Tree

New challenge for the month of November.  Not sure if I am going to be able to complete a painting every day because I have a lot of projects for this month, but I will be posting something as often as possible.

I love NANOJOUMO which means National non-stop journaling month. This is one of my favorite challenges.  My journal is an altered yearly journal I purchased in Italy two years ago.

See you soon....

#inktober Day 31 - A day at Sea

A day at sea before winter

Today is the last day of #Inktober.  I cannot believe how quickly this month went by.  I had such a great time making a little drawing each day for 31 days.  It is amazing how much you can fit on a 4x6 page.

When I first started I was using prompts I found on Creativebug as part of their 31 days of creating classes.  After a while I realized that I did not need this help.  I could think of things I wanted to draw.

Lessons learned:

1. the swatch of color was a nice way to add texture and contrast to the black ink
2. drawing small can be fun
3. I need to learn how to photograph my drawing a little better
4. I really can draw, I just need to take my time
5. you can create everyday regardless of you have an hour or 10 minutes, do something
6. i have to keep up this practice.

Well I am putting my Inktober book up until next year.  Now it is time to work in my new Nanojoumo journal starting tomorrow.

#Inktober Day 30 - Camera

Camera

Oops, I forgot to post this last night.  It was late and I was tired, what can I say.

#Inktober Day 29 Let the eat cake

Let them eat cake

Oh, this is such fun.  Only two more days.....

#inktober Day 28 - Hand Zentangle

Hand Zen Tangle

I will readily admit, I need MUCH more practice on hands especially when I try to draw them Free hand (no pun intended).  I also feel tangle challenged, so I wanted to give them a chance also.  It was fun to think of this and give it a go.

I must say that Inktober has given me an opportunity to really try new things and have fun.  November will be the NANOJOUMO Challenge. I cannot wait to continue to stretch.

#Inktober Day 27 - Friends in a Tree

Friends in a Tree

Used a pen with a .025 nib today, very small, but I really like it for delicate work.  The pen writes really well too.

Until tomorrow.....

#Inktober Day 26 - Lighthouse

Lighthouse

I love the look of the lighthouse and wanted to draw one.  This month has been a month of adventure and trying new things.

until tomorrow.....

#inktober Day 25

Some of my fave tools

Drawing some of my favorite tools was a great adventure.  The POSCA marker will write on nearly anything.  Sakura pens especially white and black are wonderful for detailing.  The Neocolor II's are wonderful for watercolor painting especially when doing Mixed media art.  Tombow watercolor markers last FOREVER.  The set I have is nearly 15 years old and only a few have dried up, the remainder are still yummy and juicy.

Until tomorrow

#Inktober Day 24 - Rose

Rose

I am learning so much from this challenge, the merits of practicing my art in some way everyday; attempting to draw things that you are definitely uncomfortable with and just having fun with it.

Never too old to learn.  I think I am going to participate in more challenges.

Until tomorrow

#Inktober Day 23 - Butterfly

Butterfly

#Inktober Day 22 - Desert Landscape

Cactus Scene - Desert

Added a little color to the flowers on the top of the Cacti because it just made sense to me.  I am loving these little vignettes.

Until tomorrow

#Inktober Day 21

Sunflowers

Drawing these Sunflowers was a lot of fun.  I love flowers and want to perfect sketching them.

Until tomorrow.

#Inktober Day 20 Feathers

Feathers

Day 20, woohoo.  This is really getting to be inspiring for me.  I have only drawn feathers once before so it was fun to see what I could come up with without looking at an inspiration photo.  Time to think about what I will try tomorrow.

#Inktober Day 19 - House Plants

House Plants

19 days, wow...

#Inktober Day 18 - Mr. Teddye

Mr. Teddye

I learned to give a horizon line so that the image does not appear to be floating in the air.

#Inktober Day 17 Glass and Bottle

Glass and Bottle

Day 17 of #Inktober, this is getting to be really a learning experience.  I am trying things I have never done before.  Today it is making shadows and texture by using cross hatching with a black fountain pen.  I love my little book.  When October is over, I will put it away until next year's challenge.  However, I will not stop these little drawings.  This is really giving me diversity.

Until tomorrow.....

#Inktober Day 16

Day 16 Apple

Wow, day 16.  Keeping it simple is harder than I thought.

#Inktober Days 12 to 14

I have had a few busy days.  Day 12 was drawn on the Bus as I went to church.  So I am posting three days in this blog post.

Day 12 Tulips

Day 13 Owls

Day 14 City Scape

Day 14 is go rogue Friday, so no prompt.  I really like drawing cityscapes.  So far I have made through 14 days of Inktober taking it one day at a time.  It has really been fun,

#Inktober Day 11 - Jack-O-Lanterns

This is getting to be more fun everyday.  I am learning from this daily challenge to just have fun.

#Inktober days 9 and 10

Hi, today I am posting two drawings, day 9 which a bird and day 10 dedicated to mushrooms.

#Inktober Day 9 - Bird

#Inktober Day 9 Mushrooms

Until tomorrow....

#Inktober Day 8: Leaf

The drawing today is of a leaf.  It was drawn with an Elegant Writer and activated with water.  Elegant Writers are like magic because of the blue, pink and green hues that can peak through once the ink is activated.  This is only my second time using this supply and I really need more practice, but I love the concept.

#Inktober Day 7 - Mr. Bunny

Today was a fun day.  My Bunny is one of my favorite characters.  I drew him for the first tine in June of 2015.  This is day 7 of #Inktober.  Until tomorrow.....

Inktober Day 6 - Pitchers

My Inktober journal

First page of journal

#Inktober Day 6 Pitcher

Today is day 6, so far so good.  I am keeping up.  I thought I would share the journal I am working in, it is a small Journal (probably 5x6 inches).  I love the paper in it and wanted to use it for something; Inktober seemed like a perfect idea since I am making small, simple stylized sketches.

I have seen some of the most beautiful sketches, very intricate and stunning, but; I am determined to stay the course with my small simple sketches which for me is fun.  I normally work much bigger, however; I want to develop a comfort level with working small and folksy.

Until tomorrow....

#Inktober - Day 5 Sneakers

My prompt today is sneakers.  It was fun to draw a shoe, but just a shoe was not enough so I created a scene,  High heeled sneaker in the store window, you know you want a pair or two.

Until tomorrow...

Inktober Day 4 - Crocuses

Ok, I have to be honest.  The prompt for today on Creativebug was Roses.  Well I have a phobia against drawing roses, so I got my oriental garden book and chose crocuses.  I love the simplicity of this flower.

until tomorrow.....

InkTober - Day 3 Comfy Chair

Today I drew a chair.  As part of Inktober, I am sketching things I have never really tried before.  Creativebug.com has some great draw something  day for 30 days.  I am following Lisa Congdon and today's prompt is a chair.  Seems simple right?  No it is not, but it is fun.  I will have an arsenal of objects to add to future paintings and journal pages.

I have to say this is fun.  Please excuse the shadow on the photo.

#Inktober - Day 2

Day 2 of InkTober a rendering of my favorite tea cup.

Here you can see the actual size of the book I am using and the type of paper (I love the texture of this paper).  The paint I used for the swatch is Paper Artsy Fresco chalk acrylic paint.  It has a very matte finish and I love it so much.

InkTober

Yesterday I started working on the #Inktober challenge and toyed with the idea of posting everyday about it.  This morning I thought why not, so here goes.

Inktober is a challenge to draw in pen and ink for 31 days.  I am using a small journal I purchased last year while at the Shakespeare Festival in Utah.  I painted a swatch of paint on each page, just cause I like the look and will draw something each day for 31 days.

Here is Day 1 - A group of Trees