Artfest in full color

Oh to wear red and purple, with rings on every finger and bells on every toe and to drive around eating desert first!

You simply can't miss another ArtFest!

p.s. doesn't Joie look fabulous against that door?!

Easter and back to real life

A gorgeous Easter after days of wind and rain. We awoke to a faint, but beautiful sunrise over Puget Sound and the mountains, flowers dripping with rain, and my sons bursting with excitement for the annual treasure hunt (map, clues and all)... the Easter Bunny at my mother's house goes all out.

I've been away for over 2 weeks and feel buried. Being without internet and phone felt strange at first, but I have to admit, I got used to the solitude. It felt nice to sleep and wake with the sun, only answering to the basic needs of myself and my family - who joined me the 2nd week.

Now I'm struggling to get back to 'real life': reply to messages, ship out book orders, fill out paperwork for junior high, nurse a sick kid, sit on the founding board of a new Choice School (focused on math, science and technology), design art lessons for 125 kids, prep for jewelry classes and trunk show in New York, write a newsletter (sadly behind schedule), plan my Autumn Festival retreat, finalize color proofs for the next iteration of Eye For Color, write a section for a Dutch book, apply to teach at venues a year or so out... all due this month.

I feel overwhelmed and a bit resentful to give up my peace and quiet and simple life of the last 2 weeks. But at the same time I am excited about all of the items on my plate. Perhaps I just need a bit of ramp-up time. And a cup of tea.

In the Cool Blue Evening Light

I keep company with swallows, sparrows, eagles, blue heron, red wing blackbirds... to name just a few. And as the sun goes down frogs join the lively chorus.

I'm at the beach house wishing one dear friend could have joined me and anxiously awaiting the arrival of another. I've been here for the last few days planting grasses, trees and shrubs all native to Whidbey Island.

No distractions from the outside world - no internet, nor phone. Only nature.

And though I miss you, dear blog friends - it is lovely here.

Bits and pieces

So much to see in the little things
Even discarded bits and pieces are fascinating
When I slow down and look

Looking for the bright side

"For every upset is an unmet expectation"
~unknown

We've looked forward to sharing ArtFest together for over a year. And not just the festival... but time together - walks on the beach with cameras at the ready, heart to heart discussions over mugs of tea, a break from our hectic lives. But the powers to be (in this case those holding her visa in their hands) don't know how important this week was to us.

So I'm letting go of disappointment, frustration, unfulfilled expectations
I'm looking for the bright side, the ray of sunshine
I'm looking forward to new plans with my friend.

Spring in my garden

So much color and texture
in every single blossom
How does nature do it?

Back home

After a wonderful week at Adorn Me!, gorgeous sunrises welcomed me home.

In that precious light of morning, my 12 year old son and I raced down to the beach and passed the camera back and forth. So fun to share a passion!

Photos 4,5 and 6 taken by MLG