Postcards from the Lake: A Quick Catch-up

I'm enjoying my blog break at art camp and am popping in with a bit of a post to update you on things, before I disappear again. And I also have an update on Rick's bike ride. Being north, with very little media/computer involvement has been a very good thing for me. I've missed visiting (though on occasion I've lurked a bit in the morning before we get going!)

Leading into this was a rough week or so. My lung infection was more challenging than I expected (sinus and ear issues on top of it haven't helped) and I've been terribly fatigued. There was a problem with prior authorization getting one of my medications and probably the more important of the two. But finally, things came through and the good news is that the meds seem to be helping! 

 

I did start the one that affects what I can eat or drink on the day after my birthday so I could enjoy this! A fantastic, beyond belief red wine! Rick made a lovely dinner -- steak, tomatoes and corn. It was a grand birthday.

And this was my present! (You've seen this photo before, by oldest Greg, a pastel of a Sandhill crane.) I loved it so much and was truly surprised to open it and discover what I wanted and more! It wasn't framed yet, but Rick's got that covered, too. I couldn't be more elated.

The next day I had a good lunch with my WKAR group. It was a little smaller than some gatherings which is nice in its way (easier to hear everyone!), and our first since the station had layoffs due to the funding rescission of Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Sad times for every public broadcasting station in the country -- the laying off is extensive everywhere. And the programs suffering most are education, documentary and more. Essentially that makes up about 90 percent of PBS broadcast schedule. There will still be programs but probably more repeats, too, along with less local production and probably much less educational involvement. The Congress just did not understand that news forms very little of PBS content.  

 

But, as mentioned, I'm now back at art camp with friend Kate. This is sort of an accidental post because of my blog break -- maybe for another week or till after Labor Day, though I might pop in for another update. Part of that is scheduling but much of it is self-care. 

 

We're having a great time and clocking in the hours painting and sketching!

 

I will show you a couple things I've done already. This was from a Terry Runyan workshop -- she always does a project related to cats.

 

This is an accordion book from a workshop by Julie Hamilton. One interior side represents spring and summer with gardens.

 

The other side, fall and winter.

 

And these are several of my daily "Scavenger hunt" paintings -- paint something from outside was the first prompt. These were instigated by artist Lucia Leyfield. (Click to see larger)

 

I did another "Galaxy" painting with a different color palate. And am almost done with the England journal!

 

After spending a night at his aunt Carol's cottage and another at her home in Toledo, Rick crossed over to Pelee Island in Lake Erie and now is in Canada. Along the way, he met up with his high school band teacher, one of his earliest customers when he started his business, and distant cousins stemming from his  grandmother's sister's line.

After visiting Carol, he took the boat to Pelee Island and said it was a great spot and he met some very nice people along the way, including a family he overnighted with in St. Mary's, Ontario. 

 

 On the down side, he's also had one day of riding in fiercely driving rain, and several (yesterday's was 90 miles) in a strong headwind the whole time. He even passed on camping last night and treated himself to a hotel room -- and that was a good thing. (Below, his stuff drying off in a picnic shelter while he stopped for lunch on the rainy day.)

If you want to follow Rick's cycling trip, visit Rick Oberle on Facebook. If you can't access his posts, friend him! 

 

I miss the guy! But I'm going to get back to my blog break!  

 

I'll check in with you if I can.