A Full, Hectic Week!

It's been a good week or two and not a lazy one! I've been busy ramping up for the art sale (which is November 13-15 and if you live in my area of Lansing, MI and want more details, let me know and I can email them to you!) There will be nine of us altogether and while we're all a bit apprehensive on how sales will go with things being financially precarious for so many, it will be fun, no matter what. Still, our prices are fair (and no tariffs!) These are some of the paintings I did this year that will be included. 

 

In addition to the framed (and matted) watercolors, I'll have lots of cards, many from photos and some original watercolors, and the felties. 

At Home and Beyond: Stormy Weather, Ice and Tornadoes

It has been quite a ride these past couple of months. The classic song "Stormy Weather" could be our theme song for spring in Michigan. Sunny days are the exception, rather than the rule and while it's not raining daily, the sky hasn't been all that blue. With storms comes clean-up. And that is never fun.

I mentioned the first storm back about a month ago. It was at the lake in early April. Our ice storm made national headlines. The cottage got hit pretty hard (though it could have been harder -- no structural damage, apart from a couple of broken windows in the garage; some neighbors had it worse). Rick finally got up to see what it looked  like.

Back Home

Life back home goes on, whether we are here or not. But despite missing the relaxed peace of the cottage, there is always something good about being home, especially during this time of year when everything is ramping up. For me, the ramp-up was a reunion with my college roommates. And then, Halloween is just around the corner! 

Postcards from the Lake: Bad Cat, Good Color

I was pretty sure I had her fooled and lulled into a sense of oblivion. But when I went to snatch and grab Lizzie for her carrier for our last trip north, she bolted. Under the bed and into the mattress springs.

She looks so innocent, doesn't she. Don't believe it for a minute. She may only have a vocabulary of three words but she's smart as a whip. This is what the bedroom looked like after I tore my bed apart -- mattress, box and all. Of course, by then she had bolted into one of her hidey holes in the bathroom. 

 

After trying to decide if I should find a cat care person and just leave or go get her, I managed to get her into the dreaded box and off we went. She gave me the evil eye all the way.

I have to say the color all the way north was fabulous and when I arrived, it was no less so. This is one of my walking roads. 

And this, the morning view.

A friend of Rick's, George the Cyclist, camped out in our yard on his cycling journey to Carnegie Libraries in Michigan. George is an interesting fellow and writes a great blog on his bicycle travels around the world. We had a lovely distanced dinner on the porch in our jackets. The next morning, Rick and George went on a long bike ride. 

They had a perfect day for it. 

While they were gone, I went to my teeny-tiny post office (one window) and mailed some packages and then took a ride to the other side of the lake. That's the cottage -- from afar!

When they got back, George took off. I settled in with a book. After the stress of the ride the day before (plus, on that day learning of the terrorist plot to kidnap our governor and overthrow the capitol, just another day in these weird and wacky and wretched times) it was pure heaven to sit on the couch with my book, occasionally glancing out to see this.

When Rick finished work we went on a color ride. Oh, it was spectacular. He knows all the back roads from his rides and we saw some pretty stuff.  But nothing topped the view at the ski lodge.

Everywhere I looked, it was like a painting. All the fall colors -- reds, oranges, yellows, even some browns and of course, green. If the sky had been a little more blue, it would have been the most glorious spectrum! 

But to be honest, I don't think it could be much more so than it was.

It was a windy day but of course we had to record the moment for posterity! Because that's what I do.

Then we had a beer on the patio, overlooking the loveliest view. It was relatively warm -- high 60s -- and so quiet and peaceful, even though others were about.

After getting home, a quiet and delicious dinner -- Rick's homemade pizza. A new episode of "Great British Baking Show," and just enjoying the peace of the lake (that finally descended after next door's lawn and leaf-blower guys left!)

And still enchanted by the magic of fall's beauty!

Postcards from the Lake: Alone This Time

I've been alone at the lake over the years more times than I can remember but this time is harder. It's just that I miss having Rick here. But that said, he got his Covid test results and he's OK. So home soon, and it will be good to be able to be with him without a mask again!

I'm mourning the loss of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. I am heartbroken. Can 2020 get any worse? Don't answer that. A pandemic. Wild fires. Hurricanes. An election. Racial unrest. And now this. No words. Just great sadness for the loss of a remarkable woman, a life well lived who defended the rights of not only women but of all people. I shudder to imagine the upcoming weeks.

I only got one painting day in up here, so far. It has been too cold on the porch and the light inside isn't that great. And you kind of want warm fingers to paint. I may give it a go later today. We'll see. No, this isn't Lizzie. She belongs to someone else.

But I did score some beautiful tomatoes at the farmer's market. Only four stands this time. So, I'll warm up the house with some tomato sauce cooking! And for dinner tonight, make this from Jenna's blog.

Blog friend Jenna had some damage on her home as Hurricane Sally landed in her community big time -- it was all over the news. So think lovely thoughts. Meanwhile, blogger Linda tells me Hurricane Beta may be headed toward her area of Texas. Hold onto your hats. And while we're at it, also think lovely thoughts for those in California who are dealing with the effects of the wildfires.

Meanwhile, it's cold up here! Good fireplace weather, although the days warm up enough for walks or outside stuff. I've been putting things away in the garage for winter. We're not closing yet but some things just won't be used again this summer.

Here's a look at my fall mantel. I really don't bother to decorate for fall up here much because we aren't here all that long into the season before closing. But I couldn't resist a couple of pumpkins for the porch and a little bit of love inside.

I love this frame, a gift from a good friend. Dad belongs at the lake. Always has, always will. And he's right by my collection of feathers from my walks. 

I think I've showed my "Dad" wreath, with his collection of fishing lures.

And of course, pine cones and pumpkins help tell the season.

It's definitely pumpkin season. On the way up I picked up some pumpkins from this "honesty truck." The pumpkins are reasonably priced and always a nice selection.

I took a little drive yesterday on my way to get fireplace wood. Well, actually, it was way OUT of the way for getting the wood -- I stopped there on the way back. Our color is quite spotty still. But there are bright patches. 

This is Deadman's Hill. It looks pretty green right now, but give it a week or two and it will be blaze of color. It overlooks a very steep valley. In 1910, during the logging years a young lumberjack was driving his team and big wheels loaded with logs down a steep slope and was killed. It was one of several fatal accidents in the area. This is its highest point and the view is spectacular.

There are lovely trails here -- Rick wants to go backpack to the bottom and I hope he really enjoys it! Meanwhile, I'll be happy to be in my cozy house with a stack of books.

And a little friend.

I will be savoring the sunsets...

And celebrating the Great Pumpkin.

It's a short season.

Postcards from the Lake: Just Ordinary Days

Nothing big and overwhelming happens. Nothing awful happens. Not much happens. But life at the lake continues to be peaceful. Even Lizzie has her ying/yan thing going.

We've had some sunshine.

We've had some rain. 

And the temperature has dropped. We're seeing signs of fall and I am so not ready!

But I have to admit, the rows of goldenrod are certainly beautiful.

I've baked a bit. Love the accidental heart in the cookie!

The tomatoes are glorious! (And he tomato sauce I've made with the San Mazano's I got at the farmer's market is delicious! I'll get more next market. It's all going in the freezer for the winter.)

My walks yield surprises, like a kite stuck in the wires.

During the day, Rick works. I paint.

I almost always paint from my photos (or sketches) but I did try some painting from life. This was a quartet of acorns and my dead flowers.

 And some veggies from my farmer's market haul.

I like how this one turned out. 

I got to the post office to mail a set of Christmas (and one birthday) cards that were painted and special ordered.

In the evenings we might play a game, watch a video or read. Rick plotted out his revised bike trip.

Rick got off on his revised bike hike, this one for three days. 

Maybe the second time is the charm!

I'll miss seeing his bike by the door!

But he's having a good ride. Apart from a five hour power failure, time here has been good. I did a little painting, a little cleaning, some cooking, reading, walking... all good. And Lizzie?

She'll do what she does best -- chill out. Or, given that the days are a little chilly, warm up by the fire!