Bits and Pieces from Here and There

I feel half-in, half-out these days. Home most of the time but still anticipating weekends or even a few extra days at the lake. I find it odd to be home, to be honest. When I turned on the local news, I realized how out of touch I've been for two months. Not that I've missed much, but more of a feeling like, "So, this is where I really live."

To top it off, I haven't had the energy to dig into "projects" and the fact that nothing much is getting done frustrates me. Now, whose fault is that?

That said, it has been good to see people again. Lunch with my former co-workers, dinner with friends who moved to California many years ago. Our schedules don't always match during their Michigan visits, so that was a plus.

This was a plus, too.

I had to head out to a neighboring town to pick up Lizzie's medication refill from my vet. It had been a hot, sun-shiny day but as I headed east, the sky was dark. It was almost like living in a world of half-and-half because in the rearview mirror, the setting sun was bright. Then I saw the rainbow. And, as I turned the corner, the view changed to the other side of the rainbow...

. . . and when I turned back, the full deal. The photos don't show it off quite so beautifully as it really was, but I can assure you, I was enchanted. 

I brought home my paints (I'll take a sketchbook and palette when I travel but not the whole big box), along with a few cards I did. I'm a little mad at myself for doing this one on a card! I wish it had been larger. It took a long while  but yes, that's my girl! (I'll share this with Nicole's Face Off!)

This little teapot was inspired by an illustration I had seen...

. . . and this from the leaf, goldenrod and knapweed I brought in to draw from life. I just couldn't quite get the goldenrod color right but it was a fun exercise.

Rick returned after 1250 miles of pedaling. He had a rough re-entry but is getting back in gear. His last day was on terrible roads with a good deal of rain at the time. Needless to say, he was exhausted!

But, a couple of days after, we had a lovely welcome-home dinner. Grilling, caprese salad, nice wine, perfection!

 My re-entry is more of a matter of missing this.

And this.

And this. My new little reading corner.

But, I did get to see this handsome fellow, perched high in the trees across the street from my house.

Here's another view. The focus is regrettably soft and blurry, due to the zoom strength (and no doubt shaky operator error!) Is this a goshawk?

And, I did have a lovely Harry the Heron sighting, so no complaints.

 

Fall is settling in. I returned home to find my forsythia wreath still on the front door. (Don't judge.) So, I've slowly started pulling out a few things that are fallish but more on that another time. Halloween can wait. Meanwhile, I leave you with another up-north sunset.

I'll miss these, too.They just aren't the same here.

Sharing with:    Encouraging Hearts and Home     /    Share Your Style    /    Rain's Art Date    /    Friday Face Off    /    Saturday's Critters    /    Love Your Creativity