Sketches, Cards and Prayers

For a few years now I have been doing watercolor and ink sketches and then making them into note cards. It's easy to scan the sketches into my computer and then format the notecard.  It's fun to print them off and package them as gifts.

Interestingly, I learned how to do this as the world is in high gear and everyone is now emailing (facebooking, tweeting, etc.) each other.  It seems there are few of us left who actually write notes and put a stamp on an envelop!  Be that as it may, I love making the cards... and I do use them, too.

Another piece of my life is as chair of a group at my church called the Prayer Companions.  This is a group of committed individuals who agree to pray daily for special needs of our congregation (and others). Someone asks for prayer and I send out the call to our group.  I also offer to send a card to the person for whom we are praying to let them know we are praying for them.  For the past few years I have been sending a card with a photograph of the church.  It occurred to me that the church building would make a great sketch, so this week I have been working on two different views.

This afternoon I printed out a couple cards with the new sketches.  I think they turned out pretty well. Welcome to Trinity Cathedral on Goldsborough Street in Easton, Maryland.

Decorating...everything

Well, it is that time of year - it seems everything has a red bow and/or fresh greens attached.

The St Michaels Art League has an on-going fundraiser. All our members are asked to paint a card which is then sold for $5.00  - all monies go to the scholarship fund.  Each spring the senior art students at St Michaels and Easton High Schools get their portfolios together and they are judged.  At the senior awards ceremonies in late May, the art league hands out checks to these students.  In the past few years we have been able to give away several thousand dollars to help these kids with their college expenses.

When we began this project, we only painted Christmas cards - we now have cards for any occasion...all hand painted pieces of art.  The painting that I present today is a card that I produced a few years ago.  As a matter of fact, someone saw it, bought it and asked for six more!  Apparently she had a lot of 'dog-lover' friends and wanted to send it to them all.

So, here's my Christmas card to you all.  (and to all your dogs...)

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Juried In!

Whew - Christmas is almost upon us.  How did that happen so fast?  It seems as if I just began my fall art classes and this past week attended a fun party to celebrate the ending of classes for this year.

One feature of the party this year was an invitation to all the pastel students to bring two paintings to be juried for a show to be held at the Old Brick Inn in St Michaels.  Not having been a part of very many juried shows, I fretted over what to take.  A landscape? A still life? A portrait? Our teacher had asked an artist friend to be the judge as she knew all of us and didn't feel she could be impartial.  Hmmm - what would the friend like?

I finally decided to enter two that I really liked and that I loved painting.  I have posted them before but have tweaked them each a bit since the first post.

This is "Winnie's Butterfly" from my September 19 post.  I worked some more on it - changed the butterfly a little.  I thought the other butterfly was too harsh - this one seems softer.

The other one was Pastel Class Project from my November 10 post. I did some more work on this one, too.  When I entered it in the competition I called it "Maizie at the Fair" but I think it should be "Hello Cow."  Any thoughts?

Jelly - The New Security Risk

I have just returned from a delightful weekend in Georgia.  My (much) older brother was celebrating his 70th birthday - it was an opportunity for me to reconnect with family and friends that I had not seen for many years.  The 'gathering of the clan' took place in a formal way at the lovely party on Saturday night  - what fun to see cousins with whom I had not spoken in a long time and to meet LOTS of folks who think my brother is something special.  There is something about 'older brothers.'

Now, here's the thing, there is also something pretty great about a younger brother...   I stayed with him.  He and his wife hosted a brunch on Saturday for family - that is, nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews...  This was an informal time to 'meet and greet' - a delightful combination of young and old.  Being a Saturday, it was nearly impossible to get everyone at one time - when you compete with two different soccer teams and a swim meet... well, you get the idea.  But, by the end of the day, I had been able to spend time with everyone - what a treat.

OK, here's where the jelly comes in...  the wife of one of my nephews (recently married, I had not met her) arrived with a gift bag for me of beautiful looking jams and jellies that she had put up. (Thank you, Olivia) When I was packing to come home, I very carefully put them in a plastic bag and cushioned them with soft things in the suitcase so they would not get broken during baggage handling.  I then threw in everything else - lastly all the chargers for my nook, camera, and phone (lots of plugs and wires...).

I thought nothing more about any of this until I got home and opened my suitcase to unpack.  Everything in the suitcase was out of place: the jars were scattered all about, wires helter-skelter, cosmetics in the four corners - you get the picture.  There on the top of everything was the TSA notice that said the suitcase had been searched as part of security precautions.  I guess they scanned the bag and thought the jellies and wires we threatening - don't you love that?  I feel safer, what about you?

Pastel Class Project

I don't know how I get so busy - I have been away from my blog for a month.

This week I had my last pastel class for the fall.  It has been such fun - four weeks of 'still life' and then five weeks of 'face and figure' - great instruction and very challenging.  For the past four weeks we have had models in class, but this week we were working from photographs.

We were to bring in photos with people...  I spent some time looking through my picture files - it seems I have literally thousands of pictures - and found several that I have wanted to paint.  I finally settled on this one.  I did the drawing and underpainting before class and then worked on the pastel painting during class time.  There is still some touching up I want to do, but I did have fun with it.

This adorable little girl is now twelve - how is that possible?

 

Paint the Town

Well, it's been awhile since I have blogged - been busy painting though.  Last Saturday  the St Michaels Art League hosted "Paint the Town." We invite artists from all over to come to town and paint.  We have a "Paint Off' on Saturday morning.  Artists paint from 8:00-12:30 and then bring their paintings back to us for the show.

Since I am on the committee, I work the registration table and get to meet all the artists as they come in.  It limits the time I have to paint - but that's really OK, because I am not a Plein Air (paint outside on site) painter. I did feel that I 'should' do something... so I found a spot near the registration table and painted away.  There were some great shadows on the brick steps... and a pot of flowers welcoming visitors to the church where we were having our event.  Not too happy with the final product, but am glad I participated.  Actually, anything looks better from across the room... and with a frame on it!

There are some people who are not able to paint on Saturday so we have said they can paint anytime the week before the event and can then put their painting in the exhibit that we have at the library in November.  That works better for me.  Earlier in the week I had walked around town looking for a place to paint.  Muskrat Park is always a great spot.  The light and shadows offer wonderful contrasts and I do have something about lampposts...  For those who know Muskrat Park, I even put the canon in...
 

I find painting outside very challenging...

"Value does the work..."

Last week I attended a workshop in pastel painting.  We spent three days working on VALUE, VALUE, VALUE - value BEFORE color.  "Value does the work, color gets the glory."

Now, don't get me wrong, we played a lot with color, too.  LOTS of color.

I love learning and having fun at the same time.  We watched some good demonstrations - and one that didn't turn out as planned.  That was also a good experience.  Most of the workshop leaders that I have been with, paint their demos and NEVER tell you that it isn't working. Ray Ewing, our instructor, was very up front about his painting not working - and... it was OK...what a great lesson for us all!  Thanks, Ray.

I ended up with two paintings.  Each had an underpainting done with pastel.  The initial darks are put in and then gone over with water to seal in the color. Then the color fun really begins.  It's such fun to see how much color can be put into a dark - as long as the value is the same, just about any color works!

This is the underpainting for Looking down at Nelson Pond.

Here is the finished painting.  It's a little hard to see in this image, but that tree on the left is purple, red, blue, green...

This underpainting has a red sky.  I was really working on getting in those dark values!

I have reworked the sky a couple of times on this one.  It originally had dark, foreboding clouds.

  I then tried it 'happy' it up.  I also put a slight curve in the road - which I like.

Not sure I like the cheery version as well.  I may go back to the ominous look.  Any comments?

Winnie's Butterfly

Winnie and her sisters had come for a summer visit and were getting ready to go home.  As they were packing the car, we realized that we had not picked any flowers while they were visiting.  My zinnia bed was overflowing with color, so I got out the clippers and we all got to work.

Now these are 'city girls.'  (They are not in to bugs and dirt - I have suggested to their mother that a camping trip might be in order one of these days.)

The butterflies were everywhere. Winnie was cutting her flowers and a lovely butterfly landed on her shoulder.  She was not too sure that she liked that, but her sisters convinced her to stand still (quietly) and her mother snapped the picture.  It turned out to be a happy event and soon they climbed into the car with hands full of zinnia color.

I began this painting with a watercolor underpainting.

Here it is - finished up with pastel.  I left most of the background for the soft watercolor effect.

Graeme's Shell

It has suddenly turned cold and I am trying to hold on to summer - just a little longer. I am hoping that this painting will continue that summer/beach feeling.

Last spring when we were on vacation with some of the grandchildren, there was considerable energy around daily shell collecting.  I had asked the grandchildren to collect lots of tiny shells for me for "The Box" (see May 1, 2011 post).  Well, they also came back with some ginormous ones. They were bigger than our hands! We didn't know what kind of shells they were, but they had wonderful color and interesting barnacles on them. We just couldn't being them all back home so Graeme asked if I would paint this one for her.

I delivered the original painting to her this past week.  Happy Birthday, Graeme.

Irene Casualty

For many of the twenty years that we have lived here on Broad Creek we have watched various birds come and go - building nests and raising their young.  One of our favorites has been the woodpecker.  We would hear him pecking in several different trees around the yard, and then watch him (or her) hop in and out of a hole high in one of the locust trees.

This past weekend hurricane Irene swept through our area.  Remembering past storms - particularly Isabelle eight years ago - we decided to evacuate to higher ground.  After 'battening down' whatever hatches we could, we left.  We returned home Sunday afternoon to find - amazingly... no flooding!  However, there were limbs down everywhere.  And, there in the garden, was the top of the woodpecker locust tree.

We could now see up close what we had looked at for so many years.  George got out his chain saw and cut up the rest of the tree top, but neither of us could imagine cutting up this piece.  Don't know yet just what we will do with it, but we'll keep it around for awhile.

Sharing the sketchbook

Last April my daughter invited us to join her family for a week in Florida.  One morning I went out with my sketchbook and began drawing.  After just a few minutes, the youngest granddaughter (age 4) appeared, "What are you doing, Gramma Jo?"  I showed her what I was doing and she asked if she could paint, too.

We went to the table to set up some some paints for her  - I went to get her some paper. When I returned she was happily painting away in my sketchbook!  Well, why not?  She had a wonderful time.  When her sisters returned from a walk on the beach, everyone got involved... and each one did a page of her own special painting. When we returned from Florida I posted them on my facebook page - but I have not blogged about them.

So, then a few weeks ago we went to Vermont to see my other grandchildren... and of course, they needed to be in the sketchbook, too.  I am proudly including all the pages  - how blessed I am to have all these young people in my life.

This is the first one - done by Hildry, age 4. (She's now 5)  She named everything in her picture:  a house, palm tree, striped towel, rainbow, sun. water...  actually she spread her picture over two pages.

Here is Winnie's - at age 6 (she's now 7)  She loved the hammock and you can also see the people on the beach.

Leighton, age 9, also liked the hammock.  She added an alligator after we had visited the Everglades.  I love his expression!

Graeme, then age 11 (now 12) drew the morning coffee and a flower.  Not bad for a girl with a broken wrist!

This was done by Maizie - age 12.  Her Drama Queen and Drama King.  We googled drama masks and then she came up with her own.

Kieran, age 8 - and the only boy...  very creative - needs to be with all those girls.  I had brought him a couple rolls of fancy duct tape.  He chose to use the tape and cut out this figure which he taped to his page.  He is also going to paint something and send it to me... someday.

WIth treasures this wonderful, how can I not share!

The New House!

We have recently returned from a lovely vacation in Vermont.  Leaving our hot, humid mid-Atlantic weather behind, we arrived at our 'camp' on Nelson Pond.  (I do not know why they call a 'cabin' a 'camp' but that's what it is)

The week we were there we had temps in the 50-60 range at night and 70-80 during the day.  Perfect for being with the grandchildren (and their parents).  Our routine has been to have adult time in the morning and then get the kids for the afternoon - swim, arts & crafts, games, tubing...

A couple of mornings I spent time with my sketch book looking around at the things that had changed since our last visit.  There were new planters of flowers on the steps and around the yard.

 I particularly liked the one in the yellow chair!

But, the best thing was to look up the hill that overlooks Nelson Pond and see my son's NEW HOUSE peeking through the trees.  No, it's not nearly finished yet, but finally it is no longer a big hole in the ground.

In the early morning, I would get up and listen to the loons... and hear the distant sounds of hammering - my heart sang.

OK, I know this is way out of proportion - actually, the new house was a speck on the hill, but the image is much larger in my mind - a very important event in the life of the family.

More peaches!

I subbed again this week at the watercolor class - we had another still life with delicious looking peaches.  We all decided that we did NOT want to paint a basket... or a glass bowl... or a metal bowl... so Barbara found this wonderful ceramic colander.  It was blue gray - a perfect compliment to the yellow/orange peaches.

She tried several different cloths under the colander - a lace napkin, a fancy damask cloth and finally a fun orange and white checked towel.  (After all that, I decided to leave out the cloth - I am still into 'simplifying.')

Lastly, she flooded the entire set up with a spotlight which added strong shadows and made the peaches glow!  At the end of the class it is amazing to see how differently we each paint the same thing.  Wish I had taken pictures of all the other paintings.

The Fig Leaf

I just checked the temperature gauge in our shady backyard - it reads 105!  An email alert informs me that the heat index is 122 - it's best to stay inside... and of course, do a little painting.

I subbed again in the watercolor class this past week.  There is a beautiful fig tree next door to Barbara's house - the leaves are amazing as is the fruit (for those who like it).  Tuesday's still life suggestion was a fig branch, some figs, several peaches, a basket, some grasses and a table cloth.  I am trying to simplify - so I just painted a few of the things offered.

I love the color, shape and texture of ripe peaches (I also LOVE the taste!), but from where I was sitting I could only see one peach.  Then there was the fig branch - LOTS of leaves - I singled out one with an unusual shape.  I sketched in two of the figs in my preliminary drawing and I was ready to go. I got a good start on it in class and tweaked it a bit this afternoon.

Many of my artist friends paint standard size paintings so they can use the same size frames.  I find that after I paint something I like to look at it in different ways and often end up cropping out a part of it (or one time I even turned it upside down) to make it more interesting.

 So, I tried The Fig Leaf in a couple different mats - I think I like it better cropped.

I am also thinking about changing the title to highlight the peach instead of the leaf... maybe something like 'Summer Sweetness.' Well, that's not quite right...yet.  I'm open to suggestions...

Issy's Bracelets

What a great week - a class and then two days of nothing on my schedule!  I have been swimming and painting every day.

I have a dear friend - now living in Vermont - who adopted two adorable Korean girls.  I have known them since they came into Courtenay's family (Chloe is now 12 and Issy almost 10!)  and I think of them as two more grandchildren for me.  We don't get a chance to visit often, but I always have my camera ready.

I was looking through old photos recently and came upon some special ones of these girls when they were little.  So, of course, I have to try to paint them.

This is a work in progress - still lots of tweaking to do and yes, it needs a background...  It also needs to be scanned instead of photopraphed - it was still wet and I didn't want to put in on the scanner.  I'll get there.

Finishing the Peppers

Yesterday I was a substitute in a watercolor class.  For the past couple of weeks the class has been working on painting steamed crabs.  Our teacher had crabs for dinner, saved a few in the freezer and brought them out for us to paint.  Having done a lot of crab painting for my banner, I really didn't want to paint crabs one more time... (and the crabs had been in and out of that freezer a few times...hmmm).

Two other students were working on fig leaves - again nice, but it didn't excite me.

Aha... there on a little table near me was a bowl of several peppers!  That looked promising, so I took three different kinds and put them on the floor next to me.  A bird's eye view - something a little different.

It was fun. I sprayed water and I painted.  I love wet on wet - the way watercolors run into each other and create wonderful surprises.  At the end of class we looked at each other's paintings and talked about what to do next.

I always have a question about what to do with the background.  There were a few suggestions - a tablecloth, add a few olives, a plate... the tile floor /could be a tile countertop. 

So, I brought it home and played with it this morning.  I tweaked the peppers a little and added tiles. I rather like it this way - looks more finished.

Now, it needs a title - any suggestions?

The Delicious Delicata

Every summer when we go to Vermont to visit my son (organic farmer) and his family we look forward to eating all their delicious organic veggies.  We usually arrive on a Saturday and go straight to the Montpelier Farmers' Market  - immediately heading to the High Ledge Farm stand.

After hugs all round, I enjoy looking at all the produce.  It's displayed in baskets with fun signs - the rattlesnake beans' sign says something like "My mother doesn't like the name of these beans, but they are delicious and my favorite."  The tomatoes have a warning label that reads, "Consumption of these tomatoes can lead to feelings of euphoria and lightheadedness..."; the German butterball potatoes say, "This butterball ain't no turkey, Bub!" and the zucchini says, "Good enough to leave your car unlocked."

Well, the signs are fun...and the vegetables are beautiful.  I have photographed them several times thinking they would be fun to paint. I am particularly fond of the delicata squash - they are indeed as tasty as they are lovely to look at.  All shades of yellow/orange with stripes of greens and oranges.

My painting somehow just doesn't do them justice, but it was fun to try.

Fresh Farm Market Basket

A couple weeks ago I was involved in a silent auction fundraiser for our local library.  We had original artwork, dinners, services, a Y membership, dolls, handmade items, etc....  There were over 50 items.

The one I had my eye on was the 'basket' of goodies from our local farmer's market.  I put basket in quotes because it was more than just a basket... yes, there was a basket with a couple loaves of bread, cheese, an onion, a gift certificate, a bag of sprouts, an organic pizza, and some funny looking things that my organic farmer son informs me were garlic scapes.  Then there was also a lovely hanging basket of petunias, some freshly cut sunflowers and a t-shirt!

The bidding was hot...  but, I won it!  Ta-da!

Many thanks to all the vendors for your generosity.  See you at the market on Saturday!

"OAAO"

So, what's that you say... "OAAO"?  That's the St Michaels Art League's current exhibit at the library here in St Michaels.  It stands for "Oil and acrylic only."  I have actually put in my two paintings.  'The Ground Ball' was tweaked a bit from the last posting.

Tomorrow there is a reception at 5:30 (at the library) for all the artists and friends.  Sara Linda Poly, our exhibit judge, will be there to share her ideas about the artwork and give out some prizes.  Everyone is invited.  What can beat refreshments and great paintings?

Here is the tweaked version...  can you tell the difference?

The Ground Ball

I am going a little crazy here - playing with acrylic paint.  Since I don't really know what I am doing, I keep painting as if I were doing a watercolor or a pastel... and I do know that this paint works differently.  I feel like I am in some kind of art warp - remember that weird music from the Twilight Zone? (do-do do-do...)

I emailed this to a friend yesterday and her reply was basically - why not make an acrylic look like a pastel?... as long as it continues to be fun!

So, here is The Ground Ball... my second attempt with this new medium.  Since we can put two paintings in this exhibit coming up in July, I may be done.

The subject of this painting is one of my granddaughters (age 4) on the lacrosse field.  Speaking of fun... this is it!

An Acrylic First

This may be mis-titled - perhaps it's "A First Acrylic."

The St Michaels Art League is sponsoring an exhibit at the St Michaels Library in July.  The exhibit is titled "OAAO" (Oils and acrylics only).  A few years ago I challenged myself to put something in every exhibit that SMAL sponsored - and I thought "Aha, I am off the hook for this one since I have NEVER done oils or acrylics."

Well, this morning I talked to my co-chair (we register the artists and hang the exhibits) and she told me that registrations were coming in very slowly for the July event - actually, she hasn't received any as yet! So, I figured I would give it a try.  Some years ago we had a representative from a paint company speak at a SMAL meeting and he handed out samples (starter kits) of acrylic paints.  I rummaged around and came up with small tubes of red, green, yellow, blue and white... and I was ready to go.

I love the look of the marshes in the fall... full of color!

As with any painting, I never know when it's done...  any suggestions?  I may need to do a few more before I enter anything, but it was a fun afternoon.

Our Antrim Weekend

Oooo, I had a fun time sketching this weekend.  We went to Antrim 1844, a lovely restored mansion - now an inn - in Taneytown, Maryland.  The grounds are peaceful - pathways taking you to yet one more garden with fountain, pool, croquet, beds of impatiens, roses, and more.  Everywhere we looked there were pots/baskets/planters full of color.  The peonies will be blooming soon - that should be spectacular.

There are several outbuildings which have also been restored and are now guest accommodations. Elegant living to be sure.  We stayed in a small house - a winding path took us back to the mansion.

High tea was served at 4:00...  That evening we went to the mansion for cocktails and hot hor d'oeuvres (pianist playing in the drawing room) and then we were led to the dining room for a six course dinner. Mmmm - can I possibly eat another thing?

Well, the following morning (after receiving a pre-breakfast tray of coffee, fruit and muffins) we went again to the mansion for breakfast - the true country breakfast... French toast, sausage, scrambled eggs and potato casserole!

Here is a page of quick sketches  - I probably should have included the food!  Enjoy...

Sketching in the park

Yesterday afternoon I spent a few hours sketching in the park with a friend - by the 'back door' to St Michaels... San Domingo Creek.  What a lovely spot.  There was a cute little red sailboat just waiting to be painted.  Near it, was a larger white sailboat with a dinghy alongside.

I began just sketching the two boats... and wouldn't you know... a man came up from below on the larger boat, untied the dinghy and rowed to shore.  There went my picture.  Don't you just hate that?  Well, I then turned around and sketched several other 'scenes' in the area - the covered bridge, some rocks at waterside, a bench, canoes on racks, my friend painting...

A little while later the man came back riding his bike.  He actually apologized for ruining our paintings!  He rested his bike near a bench and a big pine tree, rowed back to his boat and tied the dinghy back in its place.  My original scene restored.

All in all - a lovely afternoon.

New baby sister

No, there are no new babies in our family right now. This painting is from an old photo - the baby is now four - but I love the look on big sister's face.  She was fascinated that she could hold this new little creature and that baby would suck on her finger!

It began as a watercolor and ended up as another pastel.  Unlike some of the other paintings I have posted this one was supposed to be a watercolor - it's on watercolor paper. Usually this means that there is a limited amount of pastel that can be put on the paper - not enough 'tooth.'  There is a little buckling which I will have to deal with before I frame it.

Also, I have been experimenting with various backgrounds - they were seated on a sofa.  I think I like the softness of an undefined 'thing' behind them.  But... I may do some more work on that.

Slowing Down

The past 10 days have been sooo busy - classes, meetings, garden work (the weather has been fabulous).  Earlier this week I agreed to substitute for a friend at a watercolor class with Barbara. This is a small group of six students and a lovely, gentle teacher.  Of course, I would go.

I arrived at Barbara's house/studio in overdrive - weighted by all the busyness/craziness that I had been carrying around.  She had a LOT of iris for us to paint.  I have nothing against iris - they can be stunning - but they are NOT easy to paint.  It just seemed like one more thing to do...

However, the day before Barbara had bought a beautiful hanging basket which she had hung outside in her garden.  She suggested that as an option for painting that day.  I grabbed a chair and my sketchbook and went outside. It turned out to be the perfect spot for me.  I found myself gradually unwinding as I lost myself in several sketches - various planters, an old ceramic frog, the garden hose, fern and ivy growing on an old garden tie...  I found myself in stillness and fed my soul for 2 hours!  Not artwork to be framed, just remembered.

Thank you, Barbara, for a wonderful morning! (I may be making return visits to your backyard)

St Michaels Banners

What fun it is to drive into St Michaels and see MY painting hanging as a banner!  The work of twenty St Michaels Art League artists is represented on the poles along Talbot (main) Street  – Celebrate St Michaels 2011.

Hint:  Those are the Town of St Michaels and the Maryland flags.  

Filling the bucket

Yesterday was my last pastel class for this spring.  It has been such fun - hate to see it end.

I now have to do some framing and decide which pastel to enter in the Members Show at the Academy Art Museum.  'Filling the bucket' was what I did yesterday.  My classmates and instructor seemed to like it because it was universal - "We've all seen this scene at one time or another and it's going to be beach weather soon."  I'm not so sure - not even sure it's finished...  but I'm posting it anyway.

Any comments?

Wonderful follow up to 'After the bath'...

I was talking to my daughter this morning.  She showed the "After the bath" painting to her 4 year old.  Apparently she gasped, put her hand on her heart and whispered, "That's baby Jesus!"  Her mother answered, "No, that's baby Leighton (her 9 year old sister)."  Another gasp followed by, "Is Leighton baby Jesus?"

After the bath

Her mother gave her a bath and then sat with the afternoon sunlight filtering through the window.  I love that soft light and those blond curls.

I have treasured this photograph for years.  This granddaughter is now 9 1/2 (can't believe that!) and those blond curls have been exchanged for a pony tail as she races across the lacrosse field.

I had fun trying to capture this scene in pastel - it was a challenge!

The New Violin

Two years ago we received a phone call from my son - the Vermont organic farmer - telling us that a propane tank had exploded and the resulting fire had destroyed his greenhouses, barns, sheds and his house. "We are all safe, but we lost everything."

The next day I flew to Vermont with my daughter to see what we could do to help.  The destruction was devastating - the community amazing!  Support came from every area - clothes, food, clean-up, shoulders to cry on, even offers of replacement plants for the farm business...

I was able to provide child care - picking the kids up from school, transporting to birthday parties and then to school one afternoon for Kieran's violin lesson.  He was playing outside with a friend that day when his music teacher brought the new violin.  It was a lovely spring day, so she decided to have the lesson outside.  She helped him tune the new violin and then he played it for me (and her).

So, after rebuilding the barn and greenhouses, this summer they are planning to start building a new house.  This will be part of a house warming gift from us.

The Box

Yesterday I dropped off 'the box' at the St Michaels Library.  Our friend Dottie gave George the box several months ago and asked him to do something 'arty' in it and return it for a show in May.

Well, the box sat around our house for awhile and then he got the idea to have some of our grandchildren create something in it.  I took it to Parkton - home of four granddaughters - and they were full of ideas.  A beach scene was the final decision.

Our recent trip to the beach provided the perfect spot to scavenge for shells and for Gramma Jo to take LOTS of pictures.  It all came together when we got home.  If you are in the neighborhood, there is a reception next Thursday around 5:30 at the library.  YOU can view all the boxes.