Art Journal from Discovery Bay Retreat

This is page two of my journal. I cut out four pictures from magazines (representing the four ladies) and using ink and my stipple brush (looks like a shaving brush) I outlined the figures. Then I started filling in the background - I decided to write within the silhouettes too just for fun - trust me there is no great literary genius there!

This was the first page. It took a long time but was so much fun to do! I can't wait to start on my next page. I did use up all the ink in pen #1 with these two pages though!

We had a nice long conversation with W this morning. He is always such a cheery fellow. He was going to a swing dance workshop later, and had tons of homework, which he listed to us so we would know he wasn't just whining. They have 33 cases of swine flu in his school.

I have a yummy looking pot of soup on the stove, chicken and vegetables and chick peas and a potato and lots of "Indian" seasoning.

October 30, 2009 apronstrings

Claudia gave me this apron this week! It has Walker's initials on it WSJ 1995. So, Walker would have been 5 years old. I think my mom just have made these aprons and had the kids draw a picture on them and there are hints of cookies having been made while wearing this! I don't really remember it at all. This photo is Walker in kindergarten.

Don't you love his self-portrait? Looks kind of lobster like already, doesn't it?


And here I collected my blue containers all in one spot. It looks like the table is about to tip over and everything crash to the ground, but its just the angle I'm holding the camera. See M & C in the background?

Earlier today I had lunch with my mom and pop. We went to the Oyster House and I had clam chowder. That was such a nice visit -- and who should show up but Phil! That was a fun little break in our day.

Finally Friday! I am looking forward to a peaceful weekend. I have tons of art projects I want to work on and a little housekeeping!

October 29, 2009

Here are the finished products of my "Give Thanks" banner project -- "G" was done by my friend Nancy - the background is the words to Johnny Appleseed's prayer.

"I" is for Indian - one of the ladies running the Scrapbook store made this one.

"V" was done by another friend, Angie, with a funny turkey, and the three little hanging decorations. She says the first one is her!

"E" was done by another scrapbooker, who I am not really acquainted with. That completes "GIVE"...

Isn't "T" cute? I really like the torn paper tab on it.

"H" is another Rubbermaid friend.

"A" is really unique - a hand painted A and hand made ribbon roses.





"N" was done my my sister! Lovely!

Another rubbermaid and good friend made this torn paper "K".







And, you'll recognize my "S". All of mine were unique with different stamps and arrangements of the elements.

On November 1st, I will connect these all with ribbon, through the two holes in the tops of each, and hang them somewhere in my living area. I might string "GIVE" together, and then do "THANKS" separately just below it. I have signed up to do another banner for Christmas - the letter "Y".

Otherwise today, I also went to work, and met Vicki and Melode at the Farmer's Market. We bought a few things, and then went to Mud Bay Coffee. It was very wet and rainy at the market!

October 28, 2009

Today was the banner exchange event at our local scrapbooking store. The banner reads "GIVE THANKS" and each participant prepared 10 of one letter. Mine was "S".



It was so much fun to see the work each of the others did. I now have ten little works of art from some people I know and some people I just met. I can't wait until November 1st to hang it up.



I will photograph the rest tomorrow to share.

These are some of the ladies at the exchange. Half of them were from the Rubbermaids group. I signed up for the "Merry Christmas" banner tonight too - my letter is Y. We exchange the day before Thanksgiving.

Back to my retreat in Pt. Townsend, I bought this hand made cup, perfect for keeping my glue and stickles bottles upside down while I am using them. (.50).

This Blue and white jar is an old mustard jar, but I couldn't resist it! (.99) I will have to take a photo of all the blue and white things I have collected to hold "things" in my craft room. I am getting quite a collection.

I love this Queen dish! Perfect for putting little things like brads or buttons in while I am creating something new. (a little more, $3.99)

The background papers (see the yellow, and red) I bought in a paper store in Pt. Townsend. I don't know what I am going to do with it yet, but it is beautiful.

Today I also had a nice dinner with my sister and my husband. C and I did the banner exchange together. We also have a card class next week we are going to take together. I also had a dental appointment I escaped with no drilling - rescheduled to next week. I shouldn't be relieved, but I am.

October 27, 2009 - food and friends Discovery Bay

Eating healthy meals was a big part of our "escape" "retreat" "getaway"... plan: Here A is plating up our breakfasts.

J brought a 20 lb box of apples - she made apple butter in the crockpot - delicious!!!

Our vegetable crisper -- you can see what kind of weekend this will be!

Breakfast! Kale vegetable pie (sorry A. I forgot the name of it) - delicious with a potato crust, kale and veggies, feta cheese on top. I could eat this meal 3 times a day forever! We also had a green salad and kiwi. Yes, this was breakfast - a good way to start the day out green!

My new friends, A and L

A out on the deck talking on the phone.

J made individual cheesecakes - topped with that apple butter. Scrumptious. (not exactly healthy, but lots of nutritious ingredients!).

Backing up to dinner - we each brought our own meat, and served sauted kale, roasted delicata squash, and an extremely excellent avacado, tomato, garlic and feta salad.

October 26, 2009 Discovery Bay-Retreat

We got to our room about 4:00 p.m.

The view from the dock. It was a sunny/cloudy...wet/dry...dark/bright kind of day.

Many fascinating sea creatures attached to the pilings holding up the dock. Once when we were here, people were "squid-jigging"...
There was an old abandoned restaurant, with this statue inside.

All around the grounds are interesting rock sculptures, like these turtles. As we were leaving, we realized we should have designed and built a special one for our personal getaway! Next time for sure!


Tuesday morning we were delighted by this beautiful morning sunrise!

One photo is never enough!

This cormorant liked to sit on the end of the deck. We saw it there several times. Not much other wildlife, besides seagulls and a few ducks.

The view from our balcony.

Our room is way down on the end near the big trees. It was perfect!

Discovery Bay has this delightful bench. I was by myself when I took this photo so I couldn't have anyone sit in it - but maybe I can try to photoshop someone's portrait into the center.

October 25, 2000 - Pt. Townsend Retreat

Our drive to Port Townsend was beautiful!!! We toured about the town first, and saw this sailboat race in progress out in the water.

The City park is lovely, even on a wintry day.

More sailboat racing.

We did a little shopping, touristing, and then to our resort to unpack.

A lovely Fall Day October 24, 2009

This morning Phil and I got up and went to Staircase near Lake Cushman. It was chilly, but still very pretty out. Phil got this one shot of me near the end of the hike (about 4 miles).

Some scenic shots along the trail.

More Scenery and Phil Inspecting a cut log.

Lots of chance to practice all angles and exposures. . .

But wait, there's more - mushrooms! I don't know why I'm so drawn to photograph them, but aren't they fascinating??? These were tiny.

This was fascinating - turned over by what??? (Maybe Phil, he was always just out of sight ahead of me, but never left me totally behind!).

Wouldn't I be annoying to hike with? oh, I need a picture of this - oh, I need a picture of that ......

Some of them I just hold my camera close and shoot - sometimes they come out great - like this one - these were growing on the side of a tree. Not too big - maybe an inch or two each.

This was so pretty, like orchids growing in the rainforest!




We had to cross this waterfall. I whined a lot because I didn't want to get my feet wet, but I finally did it. Phil fell in (up to his ankles) on the way out!

Everything was wet and lush.

This was a random shot taken out the car window as we drove away. I took about ten like this and this was the best.




On the way in, we were practically the only people on the trail, but on the way out, we encountered many families. Phil and Walker have hiked this recently (maybe on the other side of the river) but it has been many years for me. We had a little picnic in the car before heading home.

I took about 200 photos I think! These were my favorites.