Mid summer sketching

Stoney Creek Garden Center is south of Minocqua, WI and is one of the most diverse and eclectic one I've come across.  I could paint here all day.  I had a few hours on Thursday morning, however, and just settled beside an old potting shed.  I liked the worn exterior and the huge jungle of vines that has engulfed it!  The rain barrel and the big old jug/vase were nice elements too.  

We got some lovely warm sunshine that morning for a change!

Out front is a koi pond with a lot of fish and I had about 20 minutes left before I had to head off to fix lunch for my company.  So I just did a small sketch there in the shade near Millie.  

I've been waiting for the price on the Hahnemühle Watercolor Sketchbooks to come down.  So when they did I ordered one from Amazon.  I thought the packaging was amazing.  Made in Germany, it was sent out from Nottinghamshire, UK and then the instructions said, "if not deliverable, mail to Sweden".  A very international purchase!!!  So I glued the interesting bits into the front of the sketchbook.  

A Few Sketches on the Fly

A few sketches "on the fly" this past week during a pretty busy week filled with art shows, fashion shoes, brunches, etc.  The Fashion Show at church was lots of fun.  Everything was from our Thrift Shop!  This in my Stillman & Birns sketchbook.  

I almost always do a tiny sketch while listening to the Sunday sermon at the Presbyterian Church.  This is my little Moleskin accordion folding sketchbook 

We had a "Mystery Dinner" at church last month.  People dressed up for their parts!  Funny!!!

My "littles" have started a new page...this time called "Whatever".  I'm putting the summer books I read in one box...at least a few of them.  Currently reading Michelle Obama's biography called Becoming.

I made an effort to capture the sunset after a storm here last Friday night.  The entire lake was orange/gold.  Never seen anything quite like it before.  Wild.  

Pretty busy getting ready for a long siege of company ahead now.  Also finished up the Manito Art show and ready to hang in the Lakeland Art League Show starting July 31.  

Also below am working on a Family Cookbook that will be a wedding shower gift for my granddaughter, Melissa.  The show is August 10 but I have a ton of company before that date so I need to get things going.  Most of the recipes will come on the day of the shower so I'll have to take the book back and finish it and then bring it back when we come down for the wedding in October. 

Here and Now completed.

You've seen this page as it developed over the month.  I always like to share it when it's done.  

Wrapped up with my favorite bird...the rose breasted grosbeak.  He was at our feeder many times over the last two days along with his 4 children.  (Mommy must be off on vacation.). The youngsters present their "feed me" wiggles...shaking their wings in a pleading way.  Obviously old enough to feed themselves but like kids do, wanting to be fed as long as possible.  So much fun to watch them.

This page goes from May 26 to July 13.  (So mostly June) but I don't have any real plan to keep to a month...it's whenever the mood strikes and I feel I need to save a memory.  I keep a record of the books I read and sometimes a comment on weather.  I LOVE my thrift shop red cap (which also attracts hummingbirds!). I wear it on all my walks this summer.  And so it goes.  The next page is entitled "Whatever". 

We were off to some garage sales this morning...Greg found a sturdy small ladder for jobs that require only being a few feet up.  
And I found 3 new jig saw puzzles (3 for $1).  I couldn't resist the price.  And a new queen bed quilt that looked like it had never been used for $5.  (I actually use them as room dividers out on the porch.). Hung from clips on a rod across the ceiling they provide privacy in the cozy reading corner but more important keep in the heat on frosty mornings and evenings!  BUT when fall comes I need to remove them and store them in plastic boxes or the mice come and chew them up for nesting material.  The summer porch is not mouse proof.  

Lake Life in the north woods

What a morning we had today out on South Bay on Little St. Germain Lake! Whew.  Was about 65 degrees when I left at 7:45 am (this is really something for me to be up and out of the house THAT early!)  Greg decided he'd like to come along and see the resort and go out to lunch with us.  He plays computer games on his iPad, does his Suduko and reads magazines (and I think he naps) while I paint.  This time he did all that IN the car to keep out of the wind.  If you were in the sun and out of the wind the temp was not too bad.

But I was determined to be at the lakeside.  At least this first time there and I wanted to sketch the iconic red Adirondack chairs on the pier and enjoy the ambiance.  A lot of the artists chose to paint up the hill in warmer places.  I couldn't have done it without the wind breaker. I am so pleased I thought to bring it at the last minute.  It did warm to 71 degrees by mid afternoon and in the sunshine out of the wind it felt cozy.  Hoping things warm up more soon.  

Then a delightful lunch at the 19th Hole Restaurant in St. Germain.
Lovely menu!  Lots of good art talk.  

I have finished up my framing for the Manito Art Show next week. 
You can see a few pictures from last year's show here.  The reception for artists and patrons will be Wednesday evening and I am serving punch at the appetizer table.  This is always catered by a nice restaurant in the area.  We have a harp player and it's very posh!  The show hangs Thurs-Sunday noon.  9-4.  So it's a nice.  

So the outdoor group won't paint out next week due to the show.  
The second round of company here will arrive on the 25th so I don't know about joining the sketching/painting group that week.  Have to see how times match up for arrivals and etc.  We'll be painting at the local nursery/garden center called Stoney Creek in Minocqua. If I go I may have to skip eating lunch out with them that day. 

Our loons have a baby!
This is hugely exciting.  I wanted to be sure Autumn got to see it.
We hold our breath as we often lose baby loons to  predators on the lake and we have had very few survive.  Hawks, eagles, large fish, and turtles can all eat a new born chick. Crossing fingers for the little guy.  

 

Little Bits of Life

The iris that Greg planted up by the road have bloomed now in the warm sunshine.  I see them every time we go in and out the driveway and when I go on a walk or get the mail.  Decided to bring a few down to the cabin to enjoy.

A friend has gorgeous poppies she brings to church on Sundays.

They are the size of dessert plates!  Beautiful.  

Our study group at church meets every other Tuesday morning in the sunny meeting room here in Lac du Flambeau.  This year we are studying some of great historical thinkers of the modern church.

We'll be without any guests for the 4th this year but that is okay.  We'll go down to the town for fireworks in the evening if the weather holds.  So far we've had a nice week.  Had some rain Sunday morning but it has lifted and last night we had wine down at the lake in amazing beautiful weather. The wind dropped and the turtles swam by and dragon flies were languid on the pier.  Life slows down.  

I told Greg about the book I am reading for book club while we sat there.  It is Jodi Picolt's book Small Great Things which is about racism.  It is a very disturbing book (I warn you up front).  But timely and something that people need to confront.  

Sketching My Days

This will be a repeat of the first few rows...this is going a little slower this summer with some competition for my time.  But in July things actually slow down a bit (I think). Less company this summer and a little more relaxed schedule.  
I've been reading a lot and getting ready for the summer art shows coming up.  

My usual July company has postponed to later in the summer. 
So this frees things up a bit.  Hoping that all this rain moves off and we get some sunny days.  
Happy 4th of July everyone.