My Week in Art

 

Friendships are everything to me, and I have made some really great friendships since starting Sketchbook Skool. Susanne lives in Canada and she drew an awesome portrait of me riding a Vespa in Paris! So I drew her standing by a Frida painting in Mexico!

 

 

These flowers are mementos of bouquets my best friend from childhood, Patty, gave me last year.

We are drawing flowers this week and next at Paper, Paint, Pencils & Pens! So it was fitting to do these and my choices evoked lots of great memories for me of my dear friend.

 

We are in readiness for a trip of a lifetime, planning to pack small, as we will be walking a lot so will be carrying everything on our backs. I am trying to keep this to a minimum of clothing and art supplies, and am averaging around 18 pounds right now.

 

 

My dear husband is reading travel books up the kazoo! I drew some of them to color when I am on the plane!

 

 

 

 

Packing is a big deal when wanting to travel light. Just how few clothes can one get by on?

I have narrowed it down and narrowed it down again.

My 18 lbs. contains toiletries (tiny containers of shampoo, conditioner, moisturizer, (DH can pack the deodorant), tiny tube of tooth paste, manual toothbrush, hair brush;

 

All clothing is packed in three small cloth cubes, rolled for optimal space saving.

It all fits in one 40L backpack.

 

 Clothing consists of: Pants: two pairs of nylon long pants with zip off legs, (one to wear, one to pack. They wash and dry quickly); One pair of outer waterproof pants for rain; one pair of black tights. Jackets: One thin, lightweight down jacket with a stuff bag; One Polypropalene rain jacket with hood with a zip in pocket pouch; 2  long sleeved hoodies of light wt. materials; one long sleeved T-shirt; one blouse Polypropalene wash and wear. One set of long johns for warmth and to sleep in; three pairs of nylon underpants, three pairs of sox. One pair of Mary Jane Keen dress shoes; and hiking boots to wear. Camera, art supplies. Important papers, $, etc.

 

It gives me peace of mind to know our house will be being house sat, as well as our cat.

Our house sitter will be home around the clock too!

 

I think we are almost ready!

Work out, get in condition to walk, and walk and walk carrying my

worldly belongings on my back!

 

I can do it!

I can!

Sharing My Life and A Garden Refreshment

At one time I had over fifty holly hocks growing in this front and back yard. I was happy to find two such plants this weekend behind my house on one side. This gorgeous Burgundy stalk and a pure white one. The Lilies of the Nile are in full bloom outside my kitchen/computer desk window! And after my gardener cut back the hydrangea nearly to the ground last winter scaring me to death, it has come back, not tall yet, but full and lush with blooms and this brilliant pink color. I just love it. All that to give us both a breather a respite from all the cleaning that went on this weekend. More got done on Sunday. One more trip to the thrift store to leave a car load of STUFF. How I parted with that stuffed clown doll that sat on top of my bookcase there is beyond me. Short of being dusty it was in perfect condition. But the grand kids have enough toys. Some other child will get it and love it. some of you have voiced wonder as to why or how could I am writing about my dirt and clutter. When I am doing art I write about the process of making art. When I am with family I write about that. I share whatever pretty much is going on in my life at any given time. Right now that focus is pretty much consumed with packing belonging into boxes and cleaning things that have laid unattended to over time. It's HOUSES TURN. So that is what you get on my blog now. When I get back to art making it will be about art again. In the meantime, this morning the floor guy is coming to give us an estimate. This is the computer's image of the Gold Coast Tile I've picked out for the kitchen. Last night my brother came down and took DH and me out to dinner at the Outback. I had grilled shrimp and veggies and told the waiter it was my birthday. At the end of our meal he brought out a hot fudge sundae with candle and cherry and three spoons. We shared. I got the cherry! ;-) Life goes on!

Friday Flowers on Saturday

©lynncohen all photos are copyrighted