Art From The Road!

 The day before we left on our twelve day vacation to Oregon I had a tooth problem and had to stop by the pharmacy to pick up an antibiotic to take while gone. So I drew other people waiting for their prescriptions too. And then on June 25th we took off on our road adventure. DH at the wheel of the car, me with sketchbook on my lap. See DH drive; sunflower fields; and the grand state of Oregon awaiting us. We stopped first at friends in Roseburg (Country Artist Cris and Con) and Glide (Sam and family) You can see photos from trip on the post before this one and the one before that too (family shots).

The next day we arrived in Portland on my birthday! Family took us out to dinner! I even got a vegan chocolate cake! What fun we had.

This next drawing was done at the Portland Farmer's Market! Music and beautiful foods and people abounded!

 

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On one of my days I had arranged to meet artist, Judy Wise, for lunch in Lake Oswego! We had planned too to draw each other while enjoying food together. It was such a fun meet up! Judy is a charming woman. We decided we had much in common; besides art we are both "aging hippies" and decided we were aging quite gracefully!

Here's Judy drawing me.

and here's Judy's drawing of me drawing her!

Most of the trip in Portland centered around family. Especially  my 22 month old grand daughter, Allie. Her parents make sure her days are filled with interesting entertainment. And in Portland there is plenty of that focused on ones as young as she. These musicians, The Alphabeticians, sang and played loudly for kids at this cafe! We sat outdoors to listen.

It was hot out and eventually I moved inside the cafe where I watched this rather bored nanny care taking this cute little blond girl.

The week in Portland was more than I dreamed it could have been in wondrous time spent with my son and daughter in law, older grand kids, friends, baby, etc, etc, etc!!!

And then we had to head south. We had a wonderful stop at Artist Cris Marlow and her husband Con's little creature farm home. I didn't draw there. To see photos of her critters go back one post.

And then to Glide where my friend, Sam lives and creates. This is one part of a huge garden she has. I'll post photos of it soon as it is so darn arty as is her art studio and home!

We spend every July 4th with Sam and her family. This is a  drawing I did of Sam and her friend, Ronnie.

On the 4th all of Sam's family comes over for a big backyard picnic. We eat good food. I made a Kale Chili Vegan dish many others enjoyed! They play croquet, have a rock hunt and give prizes for the best rock found in a multitude of categories; I played Spite and Malice with Ann on the left in my drawing here. The gal in the middle got up and left after I just started drawing her so I left her just so...

And after we said good bye to Sam we headed to Ashland on July 5th. Where we stayed with my cousin Betsy! Betsy turned 90 this year. But it doesn't mean much, as we had a hard time physically keeping up with her pace. She is so active and fit it put me to shame. We are the same height. She weights a good 16 pounds less than me, and I find her a terrific inspiration for good health and fitness. I vow to get to her weight in the next year! I swear she will live to be 200 easily!

Here Betsy and DH are looking up something about the stock market on my iPad.

And then we went home. It was the best vacation ever!!!!

If you want to SEE my beautiful family go back two posts! Lots of photos from the trip there!

 

Happy Paint Party Friday!

Thank you for visiting and looking at my art.

Your comments give me much joy and encouragement to keep drawing!

Thanks, again.

 

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My friend Patty is home. Still dealing with cancer. Having chemo treatments.

Your continued prayers for her healing and well being are greatly appreciated!

 

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Yes, I"ve been away, and now I am BACK!

There is nothing so special to me in life, so important, as family! We just spent an entire week in the home of my son, in Portland, Oregon! What a joy it was to wake each morning to see this little face,
to talk to her, to listen to her talk, to feed her, to dress her, to play with her, to teach her and to learn from her!

She is bilingual you know, as being born deaf, but now sporting a fashionable cochlear implant that allows her to hear, miracle of all miracles, she is signing and talking, and can help me learn the ASL alphabet! And she identifies written letters and some words! She is all of 22 months old.

She knows all the colors and shapes already. I do not know what they will teach her in pre-school!
And she loves music and her Grandpa! She signs for him to play guitar and sing and he does!

I also have two other grand kids who are older, Kaeli will be 20 in a few short months. She is studying to be a nurse! And she is so sweet and loving too. She'll make an excellent nurse.
Her brother was there as well, age 23, but didn't stand still long enough for me to take an un-blurred photo of him this time. He's a sweetheart too!

My son loves his little daughter beyond words. Their nightly bath ritual is very special and fun.

Mommy is a very special person too. I love her oh so much. She is a teacher, so no wonder her little one is learning so quickly...the lessons never stop...nor do the kisses!

We took a day trip to the beach. Allie is reading the letters on the side of her food pouch!

Cannon Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever visited. It was fun walking across the water of the inlets to get to the ocean edge.

It was also a pleasure to sit on the big quilt I made them (for dancing at Country Fair) on the beach.

That's Grandpa out far in the water!

I also had the added pleasure and fun with a lunch meet up with Judy Wise while there. I invited HER to lunch and she paid for it! Now you know that just means we have to do this again next time I am in town so I can treat her (which was my intention!) We also drew each other and I'll post those drawings on Friday for PPF blog.

Judy is so charming and fun. We found we had more than just art in common. We are also old hippies, who, we decided, are aging quite gracefully!

We also spent time on the way up and again on the way back in Glide, Or with our dear friend Sam.
We have been friends for as long as I've known my husband, as he and her husband, now deceased, were best friends in their 20's. So we go back a long time.
Sam has us up every July 4th. I'll do a special post of her home and garden as it's all so artfully done!

And we visited Cris and Con in Roseberg, Oregon both directions as well. Cris didn't like any of her photos so I am posting our husbands instead! They get along great and it's fun to see them together!
My friendships made new friendships for DH. Cris's home and garden are beautiful. She has a little farm of animals, and wonderful art to see and enjoy! I love seeing her latest works of wonderful art!

And last, but not least we stopped for a sleep over in Ashland at my cousin Betsy's home. Betsy turned 90 this year, but don't let that fool you. We had a hard time keeping up with her, literally, as she hiked us up the hill to the dining room in her ACTIVE senior community. The emphasis is on the ACTIVE. We were huffing and puffing, but Betsy was NOT. She is so fit. I swear she is going to live to 200!

 

As you can see it was a wonderful 12 days vacation. And on Friday I'll post the ten drawings I did while away. Or most of them anyway.

 

I hope you are enjoying summer too.