Springtime Gatherings

It seems like everything happens in June -- graduations, weddings, parties. It's no exception here! We've had a few fun times and celebrations of late. Read on -- and don't forget to join the party with the youtube video! (And yes, Wrennie is still in residence! I wonder if she has eggs in there?)

First, my friend Suzanne stopped by for an overnight to break up a long drive back to Ontario. It wasn't a long enough visit (is it ever?) but we had some good fun, as always! (And I could give her birthday presents reasonably on time, which was a change from usual!) 

Into the next week, I joined up with the plein air painting group I encountered last year for the first time. They were painting at the Ditch, which was convenient and lovely. On the way to my spot, I encountered this very relaxed (and getting-bigger) gosling!

This is the view I painted. 

And here is the finished piece. For a first time painting outdoors, I can live with that, although I think the composition would be better if you just looked at the right "half" of the painting. 

I had a little time so I did a quick sketch of a fellow artist. The background is too cluttered. I still haven't mastered editing the background while I am painting it! But I was pretty happy. I hope to do this again.

On a beautiful early summer Saturday evening, Rick welcomed about 30 guests to hear the wonderful music of Onur Alakavuklar, a classical guitarist originally from Turkey that he met through a serendipitous encounter with one of Onur's former professors. 

Onur is not only a classical guitarist but a jazz guitarist and composer as well. His program included not only the classics but some of his own work as well as arrangements from the American Popular Songbook.

After, we enjoyed a fun reception on Rick's patio. I wish I'd taken pictures but it was fun talking with people between trips to the kitchen to bring out more food! The weather cooperated and while it was a bit warm inside, outdoors was absolutely lovely!

If you want some wonderful music to enjoy as you scroll through the rest of your blog list (and beyond), please watch or listen to the youtube link below. It was a fabulous evening and I wish you all could have been there. Now, you can be (apart from the snacks on the patio!)

A few days later, my friend Carol came over and we had our belated Coronation Tea. Since it was mid-afternoon, we didn't go all out but enjoyed it all.

The table was set with the royal standard as the tablecloth and with "royal" dishes, including these lovely new pieces with King George V and Queen Mary, along with a bit of Jubilee china. We drank our tea from royal mugs as well.

And of course, loads of food! Far more than we ate that day!

The day after that, Rick and I headed to my appointment with the back specialist from U of M and then continued to the Camster's graduation from pre-school. It was a big day for him! And fun for us.

And I have to say, he looked awfully cute in their matching tie-dyed shirts with the year they would graduate from high school embroidered on the front. They did about five or six songs/dances and then came up to the podium as the teacher read what they wanted to be when they grew up. Cam wants to be a fire truck. Good luck with that. Ride one, maybe. Be one? Tough to envision!

After they had pizza and snacks and some games on the playground. All good fun. Everyone was taking photos of the grad and their family. We did, too!

But this was my favorite!

Or maybe this one!

My yard is a mess. The grass looks like straw because of our drought and so far my strawberry crop has yielded only six small berries. (There had been so many blossoms.) My rose bush is the only thing that doesn't seem to care and is offering glorious blooms.

Even neighbor Rosie's yard isn't as vibrant as usual but her poppies are going great guns. I love them!

And, in recent days it appears that we indeed have baby wrens. I think I have spotted two smaller birds and Wrennie is making sure they eat!

Meanwhile, I've been busy getting ready for a yard sale and the house is a total mess. Total. The sale is the day after my colonoscopy (I didn't pick the dates) and I'm not terribly keen on it but it's a good motivation to dump so many of the craft supplies I know I will never use, not to mention some other things. It won't scratch the surface of what should go. 

But.... it's a start. (I'll probably be a slow blogger this week! See you soon!) 

PS -- If you are reading this from the Greater Lansing area, the Grosbeck yard sales are June 16, 17 and 18. I'll be open Friday and Saturday till 2, maybe Sunday. LOADS of craft supplies -- good ones -- and home, holiday, books, CDs, astrology, and more!

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