It has been an odd summer, one where we aren't quite sure where we are going or when we are going there -- or are we just staying put fo...

This is the final week for Paris In July, a month-long blog event focusing on all things Parisian hosted by Tamara at Thyme for Tea and Deb...

Summertime and the living is easy. So they say, at any rate, but this summer seemed decidedly odd. There is a hint of instability, melanchol...

If I am at home, I will visit the Ditch. And if I visit the Ditch, I will probably encounter my Big Bird buddy, Harry the Heron. He was in ...

If I had to sum up "The Paris Key" by Juliet Blackwell in one sentence it would be "It was a good book to read while sufferin...

A year or two ago, a blogger friend gave me several partially used and very lovely sketchbooks that had been passed on to her. There was a h...

You may have noticed there haven't been as many postcards from the lake as usual. It's been an odd summer.

During 2014's Paris in July, I did a post on some of my favorite guide books and maps to Paris. Those remain some of my favorites and ...

Time for the June book review -- a bit late this time! There were some good ones -- a mix of mystery, fiction, bio-fiction and history! From...

Some days are good. Some days are not-so-good. You may have read about our fun day with the Little Guys , our own Dynamic Duo. It was fun in...

What could be happier than a beautiful, sunny summer day at the lake? Spending a beautiful, sunny summer day with two little boys and their ...

I recently read the book "The Bridal Chair" by Gloria Golderich, about Marc Chagall and, equally and perhaps even more so, his dau...

Our first few days here were quite lovely -- warm temperatures (but with a breeze and little humidity so it wasn't oppressive), sunny da...

I keep the watercolors I haven't framed for sale in page protectors in some big, thick binders (along with the practice work in my sketc...

We have arrived! It seems as though it has taken a long time to finally make it north to the cottage. My MRSA, Rick's Covid... would we ...

Yes, I have been painting a bit! I decided I need to finally fill my practice book, and since I had done Sketchbook Revival and then a few t...

Slow, late spring days. Rosie's poppies are gone now, but they were great while they lasted! I have a few raggy looking peonies on my b...

I devoured a diverse group of books in May! From Julia Child and the royals to some good mysteries and an endearing novel, it was a fine boo...

We're really ready for a good bounce around here. The most recent news (which is slightly old by now) is that Rick got Covid. We don...

I so enjoyed the Queen's Jubilee events. My equally-Anglophile friend Carol has been watching too, and last week she and I had a Jubilee...

From my own back yard to the house down the street, the cottage up north and England, here are a few things on my mind of late! The bird wa...

This is the week of Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee, commemorating 70 years on the the throne, Britain's longest reigning mona...

I've been doing a bit of backyard (and front yard!) bird watching these days and thought you might like an update! The big news is that ...

Every day, someone makes a difference in someone else's life. We may know a person for ages as a friend or even an acquaintance, like th...

I couldn't resist sharing a few photos from my most recent Ditch walk. I couldn't have been more lucky.

"I hug myself till my arms turn blue, then I close my eyes and cry and cry till the tears come down and I can taste them. I love to t...

Sketchbook Revival has really pushed me to try new techniques and practice drawing and sketching as well as painting. So here we have the go...

I remember when I was working and how hectic spring used to be. I sometimes wonder how I managed to have much of a life while I still had a ...

My friend Wally died last week. You've seen his work -- the beautiful images of Paris that hang above my mantel are by Wally. And my per...

The goslings have arrived and the nests all appear empty at the Ditch. Mother Goose is tending her babies! And, it should be noted, the Fat...