Winter in New England

I say this every December, but it's true. I'm a New England girl, born and raised. We are leaving in a week for Naples, Florida and will not return home until May. I love Naples and I will be with my sister and my family who live there but, I will miss the snow, the cold, my Mama, my Painter girlfriends and my studio. Call me crazy. Here's a shot of the ice formed by the waves breaking over the seawall.

Provincetown Moon

Yesterday I took a trip to Provincetown to drop off a painting and visit my friend, Irene. We went for a walk in the dunes at Race Point on a gloriously sunny and calm day.  She swore me to secrecy regarding the exact location, so the whole world doesn't show up there all of a sudden ;)

As we left the dunes around 3pm we could already see the full moon, which is the first of two this month. The other will be the 'blue moon' at the end of December. After I left her house I had to keep stopping and jumping out of the car to shoot photos. What is it about the moon that is so mesmerizing? Each time I see a moon rise it's as though it's the first time and each time I visit Provincetown, I feel the same way. Mystical and magical. The edge of the world. I decided to post my photos, without PhotoShop enhancement.

Peas in Pods 6x6

Sneak peak of yesterday's daily painting. I did a bit more work on the greens to finish this but it's too sunny today to get a good photo of it so I'll post this one until it gets cloudy again. Shouldn't have to wait too long here in New England ;)

Holding Court 12x12 WIP

Let's see if anyone actually visits my neglected blog. This will be for the Girls Just Wanna Paint challenge blog and will also be featured in my November Show.

Balloon Festival

I went to New Hampshire this weekend to attend a family birthday party for my nephew, Colin, who turned four last week. Sunday we spent the day at a hot air balloon festival in nearby, Hillsborough. It was a fantastically summer-y, sunny, breezy day, for a change, and there were rides for the kids, plenty of food of all sorts and booths with stuff to buy. This is my brother and sister in law, Tom and Anne and my little boys Ryan and Colin, watching the liftoff around 6PM. Spectacular! A great time!

Colin Page Workshop Photos

I think he's enjoying the class.

Margaret McWethy, in a class by herself . I did not put my work next to hers ;)

These are serious painters and the work tells the tale

Kelley gets a great painting

Indoor Still life demo

Some of the paintings

the 'homies' at Scituate Harbor

Colin Demonstrates

We had one beautiful sunny day of painting outside and one rainy day for indoor still life. It was a perfect balance as Colin is equally skilled in both genres.

Yellow Apple Study

This was Carol's brush stroke exercise. The initial block in shows that I'm sort of 'getting' it, but, once I got on it at home, you can see how I just worked it to death, not to mention that the lighting conditions were totally different. After much practice, I am learning to 'see' better and stop after every brush stroke. The new brushes I've been using are a world away from what has been my customary style of brushwork. I am really liking the crispness they give to the paint application.

Morey , Another Dog in Heaven

This wonderful dog just left for Heaven a week ago. It was my joy and pleasure to have his love and affection for the many years I did. He really belonged to my across the street' (barely a street) neighbor, Suzie. But he shared himself with Don and me. I'll miss bringing him out on beautiful days to lounge on the lawn. I took these photos last Fall, knowing that his days in the Sun were slipping away. I like to say, there's no love like dog love.

My Idol Prediction

Allison Iraheta

Adam Lambert

I missed the first several seasons of American Idol, but now it's one of my favorite shows. Also, it's TV that the hubby and I can enjoy together. The remaining contestants are the best overall singers/finalists I've seen. I predict that it comes down to Allison Iraketa a sixteen year old, who is channeling Janis Joplin, and Adam Lambert, (strong resemblance to Elvis) who makes every song he sings his own and has mega stage presence and star power. These will be the last two standing, in my opinion.

SouthWest Florida Sunday

Notice everyone in the family is holding a bird.

Yesterday, Don and I took a ride up to Flamingo Island Flea Market, one of our favorite places. It was a picture perfect day and we met some people who rescue Parrots of all types. They had a half dozen birds there for the day, out of somewhere near 30 birds. They visit hospitals and nursing homes with them. Such caring people. It warms my heart. Here's Don with a friend.

Sneak Peak of Nizzy

We'll see if this somewhat neglected blog gets any hits with a sneak peek of this work which I've not yet posted on Just Painting. Yesterday, I did this painting of my cat Nizzy who passed November 1st. She was such a beauty. Her white fur just glowed in sunlight. After this one, I did a very inspired version of the star fruit which I'm holding back until after I post this one. I'm being very disciplined because I have a show coming up in November. Very motivating. All new work. It will be in the lobby of Tishman Speyer Properties again. 125 High Street, Boston

Winter Wonderland

Birches

The Harbor

Wind whistling off the roof

Easy for me to rhapsodize about the beauty of the snow and the brisk winter air because I'm spending the rest of the winter in Naples, Florida. Here are some local scenes after a beautiful snowstorm. Yes, I did shovel snow, so I know where of I speak. The great thing about the internet is it doesn't matter where I really am because I'm always here :D

Red Rock Balloon Adventure

I can hardly be seen here being encased in fleece and tucked beneath Don's arm. I was dressed properly for this.

The fun began pre dawn when Captain Mark Stewart picked us up and right away had us laughing with his witty repartee. To our surprise, we were the first of 15 people who were going that day.

Setting Up

We arrived at the launch site, sky still dark, where the Balloon Posse began setting up the intricate Basket & Balloon rig. What a sight. The balloon itself weighs 750 lbs and has to be inflated by two high powered fans while the crew assists at different points. The basket, which was custom made, to the specifications of Captain, Mark Stewart, can hold 20 passengers in 4 compartments. The center compartment holds the fuel tanks and Captain Mark. He also had the sides made 6" higher than usual, for which my 6'2" husband was thankful.

leaving the launch site

This TOAT-LEE ROCKS!

Incredible view Optical illusion

WOW

beautiful desert landscape

Mark Fires up the Flame

The Crew Follows Besides the fun balloon ride, the Captain and his Posse, are entertaining us with their routine over two way radios, as the crew follows us. Stand up comedy as we fly up and over the tops of the red rocks for a hour or so, the lights of Sedona, twinkling on the horizon. Interestingly, the overhead view renders the big red monoliths camouflaged as though you are seeing a flat desert landscape. But the concentric rings are visible. REALLY COOL! Mark likes to land on a lightly traveled roadway if possible, as to avoid damaging the balloon or having the customers truck through prickly cactus among other hazards, and he did make a text book landing. From the air we'd been able to see the crew as they tracked us and they were waiting.

The Posse comes to assist the landing

I LOVE my job (Captain Mark) Don enjoys his pipe !

The Toast

To our surprise (we didn't read the whole brochure) we were taken to a nearby circle of rocks where a table was set up with breakfast goodies including fruit, muffins and champagne mimosa's (or not) for whomever wanted them and we were toasted with the Balloon Flyer's Prayer and given our certificates, attesting to the fact that we had all broken the bonds of gravity. Neither of us had a bit of trepidation about doing this and we are so glad we didn't miss it! For those in the New England Area, there is a Hot Air Balloon event in June 2009 in Vermont, which I plan to attend. Hope they are giving rides too.

Red Rock Balloon Adventures