Postcards From the Lake: What's New

Life at the lake moves peacefully and at its own gentle pace. I find myself gradually and gently sinking into a sense of peace, calm and yes, even ease. The routine is not that much different than at home in some ways. Up early, give Lizzie her meds, check in online with mail and the daily New York Times games, then look at blogs, feed Lizzie, more online and then time to be productive. 

 

That includes watering the plants and herbs. I ended up bringing the rest of the potted plants from home to keep them from certain death if I left them behind again. There are more geraniums in the back yard.

Productivity. That's a loaded word. What is productivity, anyway? These days, I think most would call what I'm doing less than productive! Reading a book? Doing a bit of art? Running to the farm market? All more relaxing and fun than productive. But then, who said having fun or relaxing couldn't be counted as productive time. Self care. Yes, I like that!

Postcards From the Lake: Family Fun and Crisis!

We've been enjoying beautiful weather at the lake -- warm (hot!) days and cooler nights, so perfect for sleeping. Well, this one sleeps all day, heat or not!

 

The Portrait Challenge

Today is Nicole's Friday Face-Off portrait challenge, in which we share portraits we have done of another. Now, if I was really doing this right, it would be something more recent than these. But, as they say, "it's been a month" (or two). So a couple of oldies. I'll kick it off with Rick. (All of these were done in watercolor on paper.)

Thanksgiving Afterglow and Self-Portrait Reveal

I hope those of you celebrating Thanksgiving had a lovely holiday, whether you were solo, with family or, as we did, enjoying a Friendsgiving. 

 

Our holiday weekend began a couple of days earlier when Rick got me along-awaited new toilet and installed it. Two trips to the hardware store later, it's a beauty (everything going down all right!). Now, what to do with the old toilet, presently sitting by the garage? I am contemplating decorating it for Christmas. We shall see. I don't have the energy to actually figure out how to get rid of it right now! 

It Was a Busy Week!

I am SO ready for a break! Last week was a bit of a zoo (and this one is, too). Mostly all good stuff, but still, sometimes enough is enough!

 

The sale ended up being pretty successful. But I confess, I'm wondering if I'm getting a little old for this! We had great vendors, a lovely time and it was wonderful to see many people come and love the work -- mine and that of my fellow artists. But it was good to get it over.

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. 

Postcards from the Lake: Winding Down

It's been both lovely and challenging, these final days at the lake. And for the most part, it has been simply beautiful.

 

Our color is very late this year. You see a great tree here, then another there, but no big swaths of color that are typical for this time of year. I'm suspecting it is late and when Rick returns in another week or so to close up, he'll have a much more colorful season. But when you see something lovely, you go for it!

Postcards From the Lake: September Flies!

What happened to September? It's like a magician's trick -- Now you see it, now you don't! Well, we still have some time but boy, it's flying by!

 

I headed to the lake to welcome my new refrigerator. I suspected Rick might want to sit this trip out, having been away from his own home for so long. The new fridge is lovely and the delivery couldn't have been better. Right on time, two very strong guys managed to get it in without having to remove my heavy wooden door!

Postcards From the Lake: Art Camp Ends, Rick Continues!

Sigh. We wrapped up art camp last weekend, after 18 days of friendship and creativity. And a good 18 days it was, filled with lots of painting, walks, good summer food and some good nature sightings. And, I might add, some pretty nippy weather. Even Lizzie hunkered down by the heater!

 

Our weather turned cool (no, cold!) and we found painting on the porch was no longer a possibility -- well, at least till the last day or two. It didn't stop us but it's not nearly so much fun! Here's some of the stuff I did. These are some cards.

Postcards from the Lake: Art, Cold Days (and Rick Update)

Art camp usually brings warm sunny days and it certainly started out that way. Painting on the porch was a joy -- the sounds of the lake punctuating our foray into color, pattern and image.

 

More than once we've seen Harry North, our resident heron, stalk the beach for his early morning or twilight meals. And, we had another sighting of Eddie the Eagle, perched high in one of our pines. 

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!)

Postcards From the Lake: Summer Days

If all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, does mostly play and not much work make Jack (or Jeanie) more interesting? Or just mellow? Or just plain happy?

 

Yes, there has been some work -- the earlier mentioned beach is a project! But here's how it's looking so far.

Postcards From the Lake: "Same" Can Be Wonderful

Truth of the matter is, life at the lake isn't particularly exciting. There are rarely dramatic moments, major crises. It's just good. And very much the same as it has been in years past. Quiet. Unscheduled. Productive. Lazy. Relaxing. Fun. And sorely needed.

 

When we were kids spending our summers at the lake, every day was full of fun and full of play. We'd be up and out of the house -- maybe enjoying the beach and most likely enjoying the water. We were back and forth between my house and my cousins, a half mile away, singing show tunes at the top of our lungs as we walked the same stretch of roads I walk now. Whenever the sun was out and the water reasonably calm, we were in the boat and on water skis.

At Home: Sketchbook Revival

For the past few years, I've taken part in an online series of art workshops called Sketchbook Revival. A variety of artists covering watercolor, mixed media, drawing, journaling and more do free online workshops. The event ran over two weeks in June. (This post is heavy on the art, so be prepared!) 

 

This year instead of having all new workshops, coordinator Karen Abend pulled together the vault of five different years and participants could do any of those sessions. Some I'd never seen, some I'd never done before and some I wanted to do again! 

At Home: Good Things

I have been pretty distressed about things going on in our country and our world and while I try to steer clear of politics here, I might have a couple of things to say before returning to the London posts again. And, if has been a very rough month health-wise. But there have been some good things, too. Like our recent Cork Poppers gathering, which I wrote about HERE.

Postcards From the Lake -- Hello, September

So, here we are. Early September. Time to start packing up. Summer is over, and though we will return to the cottage two or three more times, we have to admit, summer is over. 

Postcards From the Lake -- Summer is Ending

Summer may not officially end until mid-September but for me, Labor Day has always felt like the end of the season. Like so many, I used to judge time on when school started or classes began at the university, along with the cooler nights and shorter days. Those school days are long past -- the cooler nights and shorter days are still here (and getting cooler and shorter!) You can tell when out walking too -- the goldenrod is now out in glorious abundance!

Postcards From the Lake: Art Camp -- It All Comes to an End

Our two-person art camp wrapped up on a lovely day -- the kind that makes it hard to leave the lake. It was a productive thirteen days -- and a fun one!

Early Summer Fun

It has been a full, fun couple of weeks, by and large. We are on the threshold of summer (although our weather is so erratic it is sometimes hard to tell!). But that hasn't stopped some walks, theatre, basement work, painting and more. 

Painting, Planning, Walking and Rick Returns

We have a busy few weeks coming up -- it's Memorial weekend and my friend Suzanne is coming by; an upcoming Cork Poppers in another week or two and kid-sitting for a few days in mid-June. This will be a pretty laid-back weekend, planting flowers at the cemetery, picking up the house for company and just hanging out. So I'm grabbing all the peace and beauty I can get these days! 

Rick got back from the lake this week and I have to say it was good to see him! We made progress planning our England trip and just catching up. He says all is well at the cottage and I'm looking forward to getting to the lake next month.