A Little Traveling, and the End of September

 I'm back from a five day trip to New Jersey with a few friends. We had to postpone our travels earlier in the year due to Covid, so masks and hand sanitizer in hand, we gave ourselves the go-ahead to venture out into the world again. We brought all our own food and drink, and had the most delicious meals in our lovely rental home! Rented bikes for quick access to local scenic areas, and social distanced on the beach. Lots of laughs as always, and an added appreciation of our over 40 year friendship.

Cape May lighthouse in the distance

A flock of mostly Black Skimmers mixed in with a few terns and gulls

       A Snowy Egret framed by foliage

Peaceful harbor

And the iconic lifesaving rowboat 

Now that I'm back home again, it's time to organize the studio, order new supplies and materials, and get working on the prints and other projects, I have on my agenda.

The final layer of ink is on the reduction block print, "Goffstown Brook." I carved out more of the background trees, and deepened the color value of the closer areas, for a little more sense of depth. The image is 8" x 10" and should be posted in my Etsy shop soon.

Can't believe it is going to be October 1st tomorrow! Time flies!

September Notes

 August sped by in a blur of hot, sunny days this year! With the pandemic still a concern, we stayed closer to home than usual, so the yard and garden got  a lot of tending.  I still haven't learned my lesson about growing tomatoes. For all the work, I never get much of a crop! The cherry tomatoes are my best producers, while the other ones kind of wilt away, and get rotten spots. We have a fabulous farmstand up the road, so in the future I should just buy what I need from them! Happily, I have better success with sunflowers and hydrangea.

In my new retired life, I'm enjoying the flexibility of setting my own schedule! So many projects to work on, and so many things to organize. I finished sanding and painting a couple old bureaus in an effort to revamp the guest room. 

My studio is a small space, and I am trying not to let art supplies, frames, and tools migrate into the rest of the house! Artists are notorious collectors of interesting, inspirational, and useful materials. I love old memorabilia and family history artifacts too. Fortunately my genealogy stuff fits into file cabinets, and is easier to keep in order.

            Doesn't everyone need pictures of their ancestors posing for the camera!

Here's to a new month of new adventures! Get out and enjoy the sunshine before the days get shorter!