Where Did Summer Go?

Time does fly when you’re having fun. Years ago I read French Women for All Seasons by Mireille Guiliano. It’s one of my favorite books. I love the change of seasons and all it brings, the changing light and color, in season foods, special holidays.

Fall always seems to be a new beginning for me. Maybe it goes back to all those years of starting a new school year. I also like the realization that the fall "new" year resolutions can get a reboot in January if necessary!

Goodbye fresh peaches, barbecues, and sunflowers. Hello, falling golden-leaves, pumpkins, and mums!

“Live in each season as it passes;

breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit,

and resign yourself to the influence of the earth.”

-Henry David Thoreau

Remains of the Day

I have no idea where March went! It just flew by! This is a quick sketch of the remains of the last day of March - Easter Sunday. It was a marvelous day filled with prayer, family, friends and chocolate.

Note the color of those shells- I forgot to buy dye so we improvised with food coloring. The colors were bold and bright. Just my speed. I think we'll improvise again next year! It did make a mess and get all over your hands. LOL.

Fa La La La La

La La La La!

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a New Year filled with blessings and love!

Lazy-Hazy Days

Where is this summer going?! What used to be lazy-hazy days of summer are flying by faster every time they roll around! These are a few sketches from the last few weeks. Not all winners but all were fun to do and reflect delicious-though- speedy summer days.

Caldwell Lily Pool, Lincoln Park, Chicago

Glenview  Fourth of July Parade

Seneca Park, Chicago

Tomorrow is the 36 World Wide SketchCrawl. I'm looking forward to, what for me, is the sheer indulgence of sketching ALL day!  It isn't lazy; it could be hazy but it certainly will be perfect summer day! Urban Sketchers Chicago is meeting near the river on Wabash. Check out our USk-Chicago FB page for details if you'd like to join us!

Before the Parade Passes By

We started the day with a quick trip to the suburbs to see the Kohl Children's Museum's float in the Glenview parade. It was the perfect way to start the holiday!

I usually don't add things to the page before I start sketching but I figured why not give a try, it's a day to celebrate freedom!

Happy Halloween!

Merry Christmas

Let the heavens be glad and

the earth rejoice

for the Lord comes

to rule the earth.

Psalm 95

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I thank you all for stopping by and for your generous comments. Those of you that have blogs, they are great inspiration to me!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

Yesterday our sketch group met at the Lincoln Park Conservatory. The holiday display of poinsettia, Chicago landmarks constructed from plant materials and the miniature trains was as enchanting as it was beautiful. When people wandered into the show house and saw the exhibit their faces lit up like lights on the trees!

The range of color from snow white to stripes to brilliant red was an inspiration to all of us in the group. It was pouring out so we really chose the perfect place to meet this month.

Having a cat in the house who has never seen a flower that she didn't think was a salad, I miss having live poinsettia around during the Christmas season.(She's worth it.) I just had to paint them. I'm trying to loosen up my watercolors and was pretty pleased with that part in this one. I wish I had added something to show the scale. This arrangement was huge.