The Button Shop

Victoria, British Columbia

The colors in this photo from my recent trip to the Northwest are actually quite similar to the new winter colors seen from the dock at the National Wildlife Refuge.  The amazing thing about travel is that the new sights can be a source of life after returning home.  We carry all the places we've been within us.

Just Before the First Snowfall

It is hard to believe this is just minutes away from the Mall of America.

I saw swans although I am sorry to say I am not able to identify the particular kind of swan. I think Trumpeter, but I'm not sure of that. I also saw lots of Mallards, Canada Geese and flocks of Robins. The surprise for me was the large flock of Cedar Waxwings and they allowed me to come so close. In fact they flew in close to me.  This has really been my Cedar Waxwing year.  I knew snow was predicted, so I was thinking it looked as though everything was prepared.  

Quite a bit of ice as you can see.

The truth is that it was so cold that I took the easy way out and worked from my photograph at home.

I have painted in much colder weather outside! but it was windy and maybe felt colder because I am not quite accustomed to winter yet. (I held down the pages for the photo with a plastic triangle which explains the unusual bottom portion of the picture.) I do like the winter palette colors even though I will surely miss all the green of spring and summer.

Weaving Again

During the summer I began to weave again after twenty years, and did some sketches in my journal to mark the occasions.  So far I have woven a hefty and warm woolen scarf for a friend and some fun exploration pieces that will probably be used for covering pillows.

Enjoying the Last of the Leaves

On a trip to Milwaukee for the birth of a grandchild, I took some time to continue to enjoy my love for the season of Autumn, by painting the wonderful very temporary color as the trees prepare for the winter.

near Mt Mary College, Milwaukee

Sketching in the Rain

 We were in this gorgeous spot in Olympic National Park called Salmon Cascades and it was raining quite large drops onto my book.  It is the world's only temperate rain forest! I actually saw about eight coho salmon jumping up into the splashing current....very exciting!

Trip to Washington State

 This is a lovely harbor and filled with wonderful boats that would take much longer to draw than the time I had.  Also it was quite cold and windy on the third floor balcony of the hotel.

 We spotted an American Dipper flitting in and out of the water and that was great fun to spot and watch.

I had a wonderful time on a combined birding and visiting relatives trip to Port Townsend, Port Angeles, Olympic National Forest, Dungeness Valley and surrounding areas.  It is a truly beautiful spot on the planet and the deep forest and lichens were another highlight even though I have no sketches to prove it.

New Journal and just a bit of color left!

I had fun trying out a new 9x12  Venezia Journal by Fabriano