Sketching at Venetian Gardens

An lovely morning at Venetian Gardens Park in Leesburg 9:30 to 12:30 today.  Slight breeze--about 83 degrees.  Sunny and lazy breeze off Lake Harris.  

I think there were at least 6-8 sketchers are various points during the morning. The park is so big we lost track of some folks.  

I have not filled in my "Do Not Feed the Alligators" sign yet.  Wanted to make it white printing so need to find a white pen.

Moment Catchers Challenge at #momentcatchers

This is Candace Rose Randon and she has a terrific FB page and a fascinating blog so I am featuring her on MY blog today to introduce her.  I just found her through my daughter, Julie, who sent me the link this week.  

But the neatest thing (for me) about Candace is that she is a "professional travel sketcher" who is also very tech savvy and is busy sharing her love of art AND her travels AND tips for becoming a better sketcher with everyone.   She has some free downloadable ideas and lots of interesting tips.  

I don't know where Candace hails from (been trying to figure that out) but right now she is sketching around the world and challenging us to sketch along with her.  

Candace started an extremely interesting once-a-month challenge for 2017 called "Moment Catchers".  So the challenge has been posted 3 times so far.  It's not too late to "get in the game".  She just wants you to sketch each month and then on the first weekend of each month post your favorite to #momentcatchers and tell where you are and anything you want about the sketch.  

You do NOT have to be traveling to exotic places.  Traveling into your hometown or nearby places is just fine.  Urban sketches, en plein air, landscapes, botanical, etc. Whatever grabs you.  

The week after you post, she will gather all the entries and post them on her blog so you can go back to her blog and see the first 3 months.  She says that there are 47 different countries represented already!  Wow.  

Are you on?

Faux Marbling on Gelli Plate

"Faux marbling" is what this technique as been dubbed.  I just love all the ways that gelatin mono printing can be done!  I haven't had my Gelli Plate out for several months and I must admit that after checking out my Facebook Group (gelatin plate enthusiasts which now has 6000 followers!) I found everyone trying this new idea.  Guess what...I had to try it.

The top two examples (all are done on 8.5 x 11 plain paper) are pretty much what they are supposed to look like.  The second two examples are me experimenting with using some various "masking" techniques along with it.  The last two were me trying out some stenciling and mark making on the surfaces just to get a feel for that.  (If you have ever taken a Jane Davies workshop you tend to get into this mark making thing.)

I do think the marbling idea is quite interesting and makes lovely paper.  BUT what a mess.  Well, gelli printing is a mess ANYWAY...you have to allow for that as a given.  But this technique involves pulling apart bits of twine until they are just fuzzy masses of fiber.  THAT takes quite a bit of time for one thing.

But you could just do that while watching the news I suppose.  Make a big pile of them and keep them in a zip lock bag.  Once used they do have to be thrown away.

Then you have to place these fuzzy bits on wet paint and there begins the process.  (You can see this how to video here.) Well, the bits of fuzz become totally involved and after you have effectively made a total wild messy wet mess, you have to clean up and start on another bit.  You get maybe 4-5 prints on each mess.  But the twine fuzz gets all over your brayer and is rather a bear to get off the plate afterward.  So you do have to be committed to this effort and know that it's going to take longer than other techniques.  

I guess what I am saying is "don't be in a hurry" on this one.  And plan to spend prep time and clean up time that is far more than ordinary printing.  If I were doing a demo for a class it is the LAST one I'd demo as no one would want to stand around watching me clean up.  And plan to make a dozen or more sheets as long as you are committed to the process!  

Zentangle Fun

The top Zentangle® is 8.5 x 11 on a piece of good quality computer paper.  This has been on my desk for well over 3 months...shoved here and there and then I feel like adding something and then pushed aside for other things.  Stephanie Jennifer's Tangle Calendar Facebook group posts things slowly and I am now 10 months ahead of the rest of the group.  I know this is obsessive.  I won't say which month this actually is but I was humming "Jingle Bells" when I finished it.  🎄

I'll take a little break now...maybe.

The second tangle tile is just 3.5" square...a normal size tile.

I started a demo when my daughter Julie was here in February and so I just finished this one up.  Added a little colored pencil to that one.

We had a gorgeous day here in central FL AGAIN.  But if we do not get rain soon we are going to have some serious water shortages here.  I have never seen our pond this low.  The park turned off the fountains yesterday.  First time I've ever seen that in the 10 years we have lived here.  And no rain in sight and 88 ahead next week.

Sketches this week...

Two recent sketches in my Stillman & Birn Beta Series Sketchbook.  Both very quick...less than 30 minutes but without color which was added later.  The words cut off at the bottom left say "Pete's Houses".  

Beautiful central Florida weather but we are getting concerned about how dry it is here.  We had a 5 minute shower yesterday which did nothing.  Some possible rain tomorrow.  But need we need big time inches now.  Am worried about the water table. And by Wed we'll be up to 86.  

Mac N Cheese Tangle: Diva Challenge

In Zentangle® the tangles (patterns) that you love and that come to mind as the most relaxing and fun are known as the "Mac n Cheese" tangles.  Like home cooking.  

What is your home cooking favorites changes on and off.  One month you might revert to one and a few months later it'll be another one.  For a long while I almost always reverted to "Wheelz" when I was dreaming.  

Over the last 6 months or so it's been "Lollywimple". There is no logical explanation for what you choose except for me it has to have curving lines, be open to the mood to interpret, and be able to fit into almost any shape or string.  It doesn't need to be planned much but it has a lot of creative options.  It "plays well with others." (here it plays with "Hollibaugh".)

I like that it makes a cool border and it shades well.  

A Haiku Morning

We had a humming bird on the hibiscus this morning.  

I am not sure why I mention it but it was the cause for an instantaneous smile on my face.  

There was thick fog here this morning. Somewhat unusual here.  

So even seeing the little bird out the porch window was a gift.  

Reminds me of this painting I did of a hibiscus some years ago on masa paper....

Today looks like a haiku poem.

Wild pink hibiscus
Sweet gift for a hummingbird
Slipping through the fog.

I stored some of my old paintings on google photos.
You can see them here.

En Plein Air

What a lovely morning to be outside painting!  Wow.  Started at 9:30 with temps around 75 and ended at 11:30 with it about 82.  Gorgeous clear skies and bright sunshine.  

My neighbor Pete just put in a little waterfall in his garden in the yard so friends gathered around and we enjoyed visiting and laughing and drawing and painting. Birds sang...we saw an osprey fly by.  This was a group from my Hawthorne Park Art Club.  Painting right in the park.

Hoping to catch up with the Urban Sketchers NEXT Tuesday at Venetian Garden Park on Lake Harris.  

The Colorful Zebra

I just dabbled a little on this one today...need to finish painting the grasses.  It might be fun to try this one again some day.  Try some different color combinations.  He is kind of a Dr. Seuss zebra but I like the effect just for something different.  Everyone has a black and white zebra, right?  

Today was a day to kind of do my own thing...boy I sure needed that.  Did a few household chores but mostly I worked in the studio working on several projects already started and thinking about a few new ones.  

Caught up on emails and started a new book...The Daughters of Mars by Thomas Keneally.  (He wrote Shindler's List).  

Hubby was off to a model train show today so things were very quiet.  

Joey's Challenge: K is for Kindness

Just a little exercise in Zentangle® this evening.  Unwinding.

This challenge is obviously alphabetical!  I had a little fun doing a rubbing with crayons too. 

Hubby and are winding down after a rather busy week...me gone to art class for 3 days and him holding down "the fort".  

Some nice evenings out and a chance to see the movie Moonlight.  A somewhat troubling and sad movie, don't you think?  A reminder that resilience is what keeps people afloat in the hardest of times.  

Worrisome news continues to come at us every day...a strange health care plan that would leave so many afraid and vulnerable.

Who would take away Medicare and Meals on Wheels and Planned Parenthood?  Our world is spinning out of control.  And now North Korea is in the news again.  Some say the anxiety level of this country is at full tilt while the president seems to think he has a part-time job.  

K is for kindness.    

Just Words

Just Words 

by Tony Robinson

They are just words

Not hard things, like guns

Not precious, as gold

But ink on paper

Lines, this way and that

Or sounds invisible, vapors

Words – how many fly, fall, are carelessly flung in a day, in a minute

We are as wanton with words as the dandelion with its winged seed.

But just words are sometimes

The best we have

Sometimes all we have, 

And even all we need.

A right word

A true word

A sharpened word

A clean word

A graceful word

Is all we need

To create the world again.

Been working all week on "images", not words.  BUT today I am thinking about words again and words that describe my images and how I think about these images in words in my head.  And what words I put on my blog, my emails, my Facebook, etc.  How powerful shared words are.  (Think tweets by powerful people.) 

Or more the wonderful words like "I am proud of you" or "I love you" or "I like you" or as in Avatar.."I see you".  

Saw the movie Moonlight last night...an academy award winner and thought of how few words there were in it. And how the words that did exist were between people of a different ethnic group than me...sometimes almost shutting me out.  The then the power of image again and of silence and human compassion and the need for love.

I wish you good words today...graceful words, comforting words, and supportive words.  Happy St. Patrick's Day too!

Completing the watercolor workshop

None of the above are totally finished yet...the zebra is "just" started.  If you follow my blog you've seen them progress so far. All 3 were started in Sandy's class up in Summerfield over the last 3 days.  Seeing as she spent at least 1/3 of each day in demo, I think I got quite a bit done.  All are quarter sheet...the zebra is slightly larger in square format.  And he still has a lot of masking fluid on.  

The top painting: Unlocked, is almost done...just a little tweaking I think.  I don't know about Pete's Boat yet.  I have to live with that a little bit.  I enjoyed the class and would recommend Sandy to anyone.  She also teaches some exclusive Yupo classes.  

The New Way to Do Art Workshops

I just finished the 3 day workshop with Sandy Maudlin up in Summerfield.  Great time.  

I'll comment more on the art in another blog but I wanted to show the set up that the art group had that was quite splendid.  Never seen it done this way before.

The camera/screen set up made it so easy to follow the artist.  The camera was above her with lighting and the screen off to the side and then there was another identical TV screen off to the left side of the room.  
(No more mirrors!)

We could gather chairs around either screen or even see her from our tables.  (Or you could walk up beside Sandy and watch her too, of course).  

Watercolor and Tape

The two pieces that are now left hanging out there unfinished after two days in Sandy Maudlin's class are stressing me a bit.  The darkest darks now have to go into them and I am not at all liking how either of them are progressing.  You can see the tape "bits" on the second one.  This is a painstaking process of taping, painting, drying, and then doing it over again.  The tape has been removed on the "box of keys" and now the final darks need to go on.

Sandy also did a demo on yupo (not this technique) but one just so people could also see how that technique works.  I LOVE yupo and it was fun to be reacquainted with that technique too.  

It'll be interesting to see if I post the finals on these tomorrow or not.  As I say, I am not really too pleased with how these are coming along.  But it's all a learning thing, right?  

How to Interpret a Box of Keys using tape and a lot of Faith

This is just the thing for a rainy Monday in central Florida.

Get yourself a box of keys.  (just kidding).  This wonderful box was  photographed at the Steam Punk festival last Monday in Mount Dora.  Although perhaps some of you have some keys collected?  They are so fascinating and what a metaphor for examining life!  

Or so I thought when I sent this to Sandy Maudlin for my photo reference and she sent it back in 4 values of black/white and gray.

OH my.  What was I thinking!  But obviously since I was taking her class I didn't know that I should have sent her a pear.  Not a box of keys.  So you begin by tracing or drawing the images.  THAT was a challenge to begin with.  THEN you begin with the lightest values and you "tape" them off with just the special masking tape.  Seriously?  Oh my.  Then you paint a wc wash over it all with your lightest colors. (see first photo).  Then when bone dry you find your next darker images and tape them off.  Paint again.  So now that is where I am...letting it dry overnight and doing the third tape and  wash tomorrow morning.  

The tape must be torn, by the way, not cut.  Raggedy edges are preferred.  I hope that will become evident by the end.  This takes a lot of faith.  Tune in tomorrow.  

Leesburg Art Association Show

For some reason this painting looks SO small on the wall at the Leesburg Art Association show.  It is 12 x 12.  It just looks dwarfed there on that big wall.  This is acrylic and paper clay on gallery wrapped canvas.  

It was a VERY warm Saturday in Leesburg on Saturday...thus the straw hat.  I didn't win anything this year.  But it was fun to try.

Greg and I looked at all the exhibits and enjoyed the fair and then had a nice lunch at Blooms on Main Street.  

Line Over Line Lettering

Often when I am procrastinating I find something...some bit of distraction that has been sitting on one of my desks (I have 3 to organize...but that's another story) and I run with it for awhile. 

Wastes a good deal of time but is SO satisfying.  Unfortunately the job you are trying to avoid tends to be still there later.  Hmmm.

Joanne Sharpe, who is my absolutely favorite "whimsical" printer (as contrasted to calligraphy or serious font making) is above doing a demo of her new DVD.  She is so generous with sharing her love of letters.  So she just has a bit of fun with this nonsense.  

Just use your own script (fairly large...at least 2-3" big I would guess) and write a word forward as normal and then...the fun part-- quickly retrace the word going backwards in a wonky way sort of not trying much in the least to really trace it...then go forward again rather quickly doing the same thing.  The point is to make lots of little unusual shapes but still be able to read the word.

Then (and you'll love this if you are coloring book fanatic) you get out your favorite coloring tools (markers, colored pencils, wc) and you spend a bit of time coloring in the bits.  I used colored pencils above.  This is my first attempt.  I hope I get better at it.  But it sure was fun.  I think this would make a great card...journal printing...or a title on a poster or booklet.  I think it is more effective if you stay with 3-4 colors.  Or at least stay in the same color "family".  But you can try whatever!  You can watch her do it here.

ps...the job I was avoiding did not go away and so I had to start packing up art supplies for my workshop with Sandy Maudlin that starts on Monday.  I LOVE workshops.  I just don't like the packing up part.  But it's all done now.  Can't wait to share the workshop with you all.  It is one of watercolor/batik but in a very usual style.  

All this HAD to get done today because tomorrow (Sunday) is our all-day art show here at Hawthorne Park.  40% chance of rain tomorrow...am hoping that it waits until night time!  We usually get close to 400 people there!  Rain could put a damper on things.  I am co-chair of the event and have to be there ALL day.   And I have to leave at the crack of dawn on Monday!!!

Smashing a Paradigm

Sometimes a book comes along and you are just jaw-dropping amazed by how it touches you.  (Of course you have to like trees.)

But who doesn't like trees?

But this is not about what do with wood or how to grow an orchard or how to identify a pine tree.  Or any of the other "tree related" books you have surely come across.  It is not even why you should take a walk in the woods (although that is a good idea, of course.) 

Peter Wohlleben published this in 2015 but it had not fallen into my life until my daughter Julie mentioned it to me this winter when visiting.  I cannot for the life of me remember what the context was that brought it up.  But after I read the review I was absolutely drawn to get a copy.  And I have to pass my delight on.  

The book jacket says "A powerful reminder to slow down and tune into the language of nature".  But I really feel that is a disservice to the book.  It's much more than that.  Another review says "a paradigm-smashing chronicle of joyous entanglement...".  Now that is more like it.  It's a book that will cause you never to look at a tree in quite the same way again.  

And what is even more especially great is that the author knows how to write in an entertaining and purposeful way.  245 pages...it's not that long but I found myself anxious to read the next chapter.  How could I be my age and not know all that much about trees?  I spend 5 months a year in the northern Wisconsin forest!  

I know it will inspire more tree painting in me too!  

Near the Lake

The Good News

On Thursday hubby was scheduled to complete his 2-part "stress" test for the cardiologist.  Due to some limitations physically, we decided along with the doctor, that a chemically induced stress test would work best.  And because he suffers from ET (Essential Tremor) and has a brain implant to help this and a chest implant to regulate it, this complicated the matter.  

All of this was baseline testing, by the way.  Other than feeling extra tired lately, he had no other symptoms.  But stress tests tend to cause some "real" stress for the ones taking the tests and the ones who love them.  What if they find something?  At our ages, these things happen!  

This 30 minute sketch was during the wait period before he actually completed the test.  He had his IV in but was not uncomfortable physically. But we were tired of waiting and worried about how it would go.  So we chatted quietly and I did this small sketch to help pass the time.  The monitor in the drawing was used for the EKG.  The scan was in another room actually.  Greg was given Valium to make him feel relaxed so he was lying down to wait.

Now looking back at the sketch I can feel the tension, the worry and the sterile and discomforting environment all over again.  

The good news is that when the test was read today...everything was PERFECTLY normal.  Much celebrating this evening!

One of these things does not belong

There are some challenges that "tickle my fancy".  This one had to do with the letter "j".  I could not help myself and started tangling all the j tangles I could find.  BUT this turned out to be one of those games..one of these things does not belong.  😉
I am sure you'll find it immediately...I got caught up with a new tangle and forgot the name of the game!  Oops. 
Incidentally I cut off the name of one on the left near the point of the j that is named "Joki".  

Folding the Corner of the Page...

Field Guide by Tony Hoagland Once, in the cool blue middle of a lake, up to my neck in that most precious element of all, I found a pale-gray, curled-upwards pigeon feather floating on the tension of the water at the very instant when a dragonfly,  like a blue-green iridescent bobby pin, hovered over it, then lit, and rested. That's all. I mention this in the same way that I fold the corner of a page in certain library books,  so that the next reader will know where to look for the good parts. ----------- I think that no explanation is needed with this poem.  But I wanted to include it today as it explains my goal with this blog which is to drop bits of what I see in life into it and share it with my readers "in the same way you fold the corner of a page in certain library books, so that the next reader will know where to look for the good parts".

"Brush Lettering and Watercolor" by Jess Park

I know of at least 3 other people in my immediate art circle who have enrolled in Strathmore's free "Brush Lettering and Watercolor Class" by Jess Park.  It's too soon yet to know how it's going to go.

The first photo is of one of the handouts.  The second is my practice sheets on tracing paper.

The first lesson which was available last Monday was a sleep-inducing video on how to do the strokes on all 26 letters in her technique.  However, the idea is now to use your handouts as models and trace over them to learn how to make them.  This is more fun (but slightly frustrating).  

You really need her exact brush pens I feel.  She has suggested the Tombow Fudenosuke hard or soft or the Pentel Fude Touch.  I have ordered them but of course they haven't come yet.  So I am making do with a Prismacolor Premier black brush pen.  It's not ideal.  But I can sort of get the idea.  I do think Jess should have been specific in her first video if she was using the soft or hard Tombow in her demos.  

At the top where it says "the fundamentals" she shows how the calligraphy looks when done well.  And I do like the look of this font.  The trick is when to use pressure and when to release it.

There are 4 sessions and the next two are about the watercolor end of this.  The 4th combines the lettering and the watercolor.  I think I better practice some more!!! I am going back now and watching her  do one letter at a time and then I do the letter and so forth.  It's a definite learning curve!! 

I tried putting this under my pillow and sleeping on it, but apparently you HAVE to practice

Finishing the Zentangle® Labyrinth

I finished up the Zentangle Finger Labyrinth this afternoon.  I just felt I had to finishing something!  Everything I have around the studio is partially done!  I have coated the finger pathway with gloss medium and varnish and it is drying.  I haven't decided if the tactile edge is the way to go or not.  Have to think about that later.  
The piece is just 8.5 x 11 inches.  Wanted to keep things simple and small and frankly it take quite a while to tangle this even though it is not very big.  

One of the tangles is the Diva's Challenge this week.  Amphora.  It is at the right on the bottom.  

A little more about this project in the previous post.  

Making a "Finger Labyrinth" with Zentangle®

My daughter Julie clued me into a fascinating blog called "The Tangled Labyrinth".  Obviously from the title of my own blog, you know that I am interested in labyrinths.  AND in tangles.  So is my daughter.  And when we find a kindred soul we get pretty fascinated.  

Sadelle Wiltshire lives in Vermont where she teaches workshops and leads retreats on both these subjects...sometimes together. When you poke around her beautiful blog you will find examples of walking labyrinths and also "finger" labyrinths.  My attempt to try one of those on my own is above.  It is pretty labor intensive...even a 8.5 x 11" one!  

Labyrinths, as you may know, are a meditative "journey" into mindfulness and insight.  In their book Labyrinths From the Outside In: Walking to Spiritual Insight: A Beginner's Guide, Donna Schaper and Carole Ann Camp tell about the history of labyrinths and the reasons why this meditative practice has become so popular of late.  They have been discovered as long ago as 500 BCE in southwestern Peru.  

Without going further I will simply add that like Zentangle® the practice of walking or drawing leads to a spiritual and calming experience.  For those of us who have no labyrinth at hand to walk, a finger labyrinth can be a small substitute.  In other words, it is designed to enter in, proceed slowly to the center and then return the same route.  I often say...a long journey in a small space, using your fingers on the path.   

My idea is that once I finish tangling it, I will coat it with a clear  polymer and when dry I plan to add some texture around the edges of the path with texture paint to give the path edges.  It can slip into a folder and be available at a moment's notice.  

I want to thank Sadelle for this lovely idea.  I'll post this again when it's all finished.  Incidentally I have seen beautiful finger labyrinths routed out of wood.  You can google this to find out more.  

My John Pike studio palette

I've have my old "John Pike" palette for eons.  I can't even remember how many years.  The top photo is the cover for it with the color chart I have made.  Diane Maxwell, all those many years ago, showed me that is how to keep the colors in order.  The white sheet is from a master sheet and I made a dozen of them and keep in a folder...just a black and white drawing of the palette.  I tape a plastic "sheet protector" on top of the palette cover with one end open.  

Then when I change a color I can just pull the sheet out, cross it off and make the change and slide it back in.  Today I changed a number of the colors in preparation for my class with Sandy Maudlin starting on the 13th.  So I pulled it out and started over. 

It's good to be able to check at any time and see what color and brand you are dipping into...especially since some colors are similar on the palette.

Basically the organization is the same but I have changed a few colors to try out some of her palette but also keeping my own favorites.  The initials tell what brand the paint is which can make quite a difference.  WN = Winsor Newton, QOR means Golden, H=Holbein, Graham paints are made with honey as a binder, and DS = Daniel Smith paints.  

It's good to wash up and organize your palette from time to time.  Putting fresh paint in is a good idea.  Lordy my hands were stained with paint by the time I was done.  I'd say it took a good two hours.

This is a "studio palette".  I have several smaller ones that I take on location.  

Where is the time for art?

So I should be making art...this I know.  But I want you to know that I do have some legitimate distractions.  One thing past week was my show on local in-house television for our park...called "First Friday with Fine Arts". I interview one of the club members who is currently showing an exhibition in the park library and it's a chance to talk about various other art activities taking place here and locally.  

AND I am co-chair of the big park art show which takes place one week from today!  We expect about 400 people to visit that afternoon...if the weather holds and the "creeks don't rise".  Actually we need rain desperately here in Central Florida.  But it could please not rain next weekend!

AND I've had company for 14 days straight.  (not kidding.)  About half a dozen projects are half started in my studio.  Am hoping this week will allow me some time. Although other things are creeping in!  Boy, sometimes you have to fight for art time, don't you?

My Tiny Accordion Sketchbook

This is my tiny accordion fold purse sketch book...3 x 5".  Both are 5 minute sketches with color added later.  Left is waiting for our tour boat...Margaret and I in the hot sun on the pier like two turtles  sunning in the heat.  Greg off parking the car.  Then on the right a really darling little hidden restaurant off the streets and through a winding path to find "The Bistro" for lunch.  

I have so much art waiting to be worked on!  But I can't seem to get started today.  I ended up doing mundane things like catching up with laundry and balancing the check book...arrrgh.  After having guests for two weeks there were a lot of small things needed doing.

So I am having my wine and am curled up on the FL room watching the sun get lower in the sky and reading Fredrik Backman's book My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry.  If you have read A Man Called Ove, it's the same author.

Sunday looks like a quiet afternoon...maybe after church I'll get to the studio?  

Tiffany and Winter Park

Boat ride through Winter Park

Yummy Tiffany lamps

Tiffany Windows

Just a few more photos from our trip to Winter Park yesterday.  Such a lovely day!

A Wonderful Day in Winter Park, FL

What a wonderful art day!  A visit to the Tiffany Museum in Winter Park.   What a pleasure.  And then to also find an Alphonse Mucha there too (see  top painting).  Gosh I love his work!!!  He was a Czech art nouveau painter.  (1860-1939) 

And then to see so much wonderful art by Louis Comfort Tiffany!

The world's best collection of his beautiful art in glass, pottery, and paintings.  I will post a little more of my photos at another time.

Such pattern...it makes a Zentangle® artist almost swoon with amazed delight at all the patterns.

We went with my friend Margaret, here from snowy WI, and we took the great little boat ride through the canals around Winter Park. It was about 85 all day and sunny and just perfect to be out on the lake.  Then a super delightful lunch at The Bistro on Park Avenue. Then the museum and finally we stopped at church for the Ash Wednesday service of ashes on the way home at Graceway Presbyterian Church in Leesburg.  Home for Chinese food.  Yum.

What a perfect day.