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Thursday, May 16, 2013

A Ten Day Vacation Makes For A Very Long Post of Drawings!

On May 4th we set out for a long drive to Portland, Oregon to visit our son and
daughter in law and grand baby, Allie Bel!

We stopped first at Ashland, OR and spent the day and one night with my cousin Betsy, who had just turned 90! Betsy has a great sense of humor and normally I find it hard to keep up with her pace, but unfortunately this day she had something going on in her tummy that was bothersome and she didn't feel much like playing with us per usual. Next time!

 


 Before getting to Ashland we drove by Mt. Shasta! I drew while my husband drove, and yes, I even painted in the car while traveling. We had lunch in Ashland sitting outdoors, as the weather was perfect.
And we stopped at the art gallery where Seth Apter had a show of his wonderful mixed media art on display. So nice to see in person!!!


After one day in Ashland we were back on the road. We used the huge outdoor store, Cabella's as a stopping place to get out and walk around. I bought a soft stuffed bunny rabbit for Allie while there.  In Albany we stopped for lunch at a Mexican restaurant and I had "The Lynn". ;-) 


I did not draw a lot while we were in Portland, as all my focus was on being with my family. I did draw this day while Allie was taking a nap. Her mom, Jackie was in the backyard gardening. (She is much more beautiful than this woman in my picture...sorry Jackie) And my son was mowing the lawn.
We continued to eat well there, as my kids keep to a Vegetarian/vegan diet for the most part.
 


Allie loved it when grandpa sang and played his guitar. She would "sign" asking him to play.
I also got to spend time with my two oldest grand children, Mikiah 22 and Kaeli 19.
They are beautiful young people and so full of love to share with their grandma!


My grand daughter is brilliant! I taught her "colors" while there, and she remembered them as we went over this lesson each day. Here she is coloring with her crayons I bought her when they were visiting us in California in April. Again, I didn't think I'd captured what they really look like well, but when I asked Allie who the woman in the drawing was she said "Ma Ma". And when I asked who the baby was she pointed to herself! Like I said she's a very smart little 22 month old! 


One of my reasons for going to Portland at this particular time was to take a workshop given by Seth Apter of the Altered Page blog. I took some notes in my art journal there and quickly sketched Seth as he was teaching the class. It was a very fun day. My girlfriend, Sam, came up from Glide, OR to take the class with me. We created "Dream Boxes" and learned a lot about layering gesso and paint and glaze! 


It is never long enough it seems, as the day to leave eventually smacks us in the face.
So hard to say goodbye. My heart aches missing my family ... especially little Allie.
She and I spent so many precious hours together, talking and playing, and me just holding her getting her down to sleep leaves an impression on my chest that will be there forever. I just have to think about it to feel her warmth!

We traveled down to Roseberg, and spent a few precious hours with Cris, whose blog you visit. We got to see her chickens in action and pet Annie. Her garden of roses was in full beautiful bloom! Our husbands had a long chat as if we had just been there yesterday! I also got to see Cris' latest painting in progress and her wonderful art journals! Art in person always far surpasses seeing it in photos.

From there we went on to Glide, where we had dinner and spent the night at Sam's house. Her art studio is always fun for me to see. She makes amazing mixed media art herself and I can see her teaching classes!

And then to Crater Lake where the beauty always takes our breath away!


The next day we had that LONG drive home. Retracing our steps past beautiful Mt. Shasta all covered in snow. DH drives, I draw and paint. I left a space there to fill in with being home and getting Henry home. He was not happy being cooped up in his cat condo for such a long time, and he cried a lot after he got home. But day two he seems to be settling in once more.


Now I am back to work, lunch at Tacos Jalisco, and life as usual.
However, I do have our next trip planned out for the end of June!
Nice to have that to look forward to and seeing everyone mentioned here again!

I will link this to Paint Party Friday and Sunday Sketchers.
You can visit each blog via the icons on my sidebar.

Thank you for your comments left ... your words always warm my heart!
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36 comments:

  1. Oh its fun seeing these again. Well most of them.. Some you finished after I saw them in person. They are so much richer in person like you said. The visit was short but sweet. We didn't even miss a beat at the door... its like we talked yesterday.. oh.. we did.. lol HPPF Looking forward to another visit soon. Got to love Blog Land. :)

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  2. Loving your pages of your time away Lynn with such wonderful memories. Happy PPF, Annette x

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  3. What a beautiful way to remember your vacation and the time spent with your family. Although I do not know how you can draw or paint in a moving vehicle :). I really enjoyed this post. Thank you for sharing. I am taking my art journal on my next outing!

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  4. Love your travel sketches. It looks like you both had a great time.

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  5. Wow! what a great trip. So special that you get to stay with your family. Sorry that Cousin Betsy wasn't feeling too well, hope she is better by now. And you got to do a class with Seth Apter...lucky you. Plus you got to visit Cris and her husband, see the chickens and make a fuss of Annie! How brilliant - wish I could teleport! :)

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  6. I love your trips, they are so much fun to see through your artist eyes. Blessings, Janet PPF

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  7. Sounds like it was a great trip. Awesome work in your sketch book. How fun that you got to see Cris's chickens. yay!

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  8. looks like a lovely trip, and such great drawings

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  9. wow what a great trip filled with much love and creativity! I hope to see your work at the workshop too. Lovely drawings!

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  10. I loved every minute of your trip pictures, there were one or two that really caught my eye, but basically they were all fabulous... it sounds as though you had a marvelous time...xx

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  11. Oh my, you can make books of your paintings like we make books of our photographs! Such a nice way to remember things....

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  12. I love the freshness and delight in your sketches and enjoyed my trip with you all!!!

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  13. Wonderful post Lynn and what a journey!. It's such a lovely way to document your trip:) HPPF

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  14. What a nice tour around the country with you!!! These turned out lovely! I especially like the Jackie and Allie one!! Colors are awesome and the fact she knew who it was is wonderful!! Thanks for the little trek in your shoes!! Also was Mount Shasta as spiritual as they say it is?

    Hugs Giggles

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  15. wow what a great collection of illustrations to remember your vacation!! How cool that you got to take a class with Seth. Perhaps you'll share your project? Happy PPF!

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  16. I just got lost in this post -- what a wonderful 10 days - family, art friends, blog friends - fantastic. Love all the illustrations - how prolific you were! Happy PPF!

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  17. Welcome back Lynn! I totally related to your time with Alli, so sweet the time we share with the little ones. Wow! So impressed that you drew AND painted in the car! Lovely travel journal, thanks for sharing and HPPF!

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  18. Wow, Lynn, I feel like I've been on a vacation to Oregon. What a marvelous post with so many great drawings. How nice you got to visit with Cris! She also agreed that art in person trumps art shown on the internet. Maybe someday technology will cure that. Thanks for sharing your vacation with us.

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  19. I love these road trips you take - your art journalling is wonderful as always, capturing every little detail. How wonderful that you got to meet Chris in Oregon!It must be weirdly wonderful to meet someone finally that you've had an online connection with for so long!

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  20. What a wonderful trip! It sounds like you two have such a good time traveling together! And how fun to have so many great destinations along the way...

    I love your paintings--I remember when you weren't sure you could draw! Ha!

    Happy Paint Party Friday!

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  21. Fantastic sketches of your journey and all the anecdotes. Happy PPF

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  22. Wonderful sketches and a perfect Story of life!
    Hugs and hppy PPF
    Erika

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  23. Love how you combined writing and drawing! Great drawings! <3

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  24. Hi! I found your blog on The Altered Page - love your visual journal! Love the story. Glad I found your blog! I'm always searching for new techniques for my mixed media art and I especially like your note from the workshop -
    Stop by and visit my blog sometime! I look forward to reading yours
    http://www.michelleoconnorweekendartist.blogspot.com

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  25. Fantastic pictorial of your trip to Oregon. You were all around me. I live in Florence. I also draw and sketch while on road trips. It is so much fun. I am glad you had such a good time and was able to visit Chris.
    Nicole/Beadwright

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  26. I love, love, love your art and journaling during your trip to see your son and his family. The pages are so colorful and filled with energy. Blessings!

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  27. Wonderful sketches - hard to get good likenesses of people we know and love! We see them with different eyes! What a terrific trip - read about your visit on Cris's blog. I always feel like I'm riding along with you. HPPF

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  28. Fun trip and fun sketches and so great to see you visiting Cris again.

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  29. love 'em all but the guitar is my favorite! what a great trip! xo

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  30. Sounds wonderful all the way from home and back :-)
    Great that you even are able to meet blogger friends on your tour!

    Happy PPF
    Ilona

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  31. What a great way to remember your travels. Well done. Happy PPF!

    Tameko
    http://www.creatingmypeace.com/

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  32. Your drawings are amazing as ever. And you must have had a wonderful vacation. I have been absent most of this spring. Just to much on my plate. But I always come home to my friends here in blogland. The food looks great. I so need to stay away from carbs. Big Hugs, Mary

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  33. I see a whole new book here- with an equally enchanting title- love them- travels with Mr F and his guitar. Love what you do- it's so clever and very arty.

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  34. I love this sort of 'diary' and what a great remembrance. Your talent and ideas are a wonderful tribute to your life. I enjoy your art and your ideas so much. Thank you for sharing. Blessings, Janet PPF

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  35. What fun! I love the illustration of it all...I need to try and do that when I go on trips. I'm all about some finished project that gets framed...ugh NO fun!

    You were so close to meeeee.....we visit Ashland, our grandparents live there and we live just west of Portland. It's a pretty nice drive. Love to see what your up too. Hugs!

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Thanks for leaving your comments as I love hearing from you. Your words of encouragement are why I continue to draw!