February 2017 completed

So my challenge of writing a month of letters is complete.  It was a fun challenge.  Fortunately for me, Valentine's Day was in the month.  I was able to send a number of letters with my Valentines.
It was a succesful month, I think.  I received two letters, an email, and a text message in response.  I was please to send letters back to those that wrote me.

A Bouquet of Daffodils.

Yesterday, I purchased a bouquet of daffodils.  The day was snowy and gray, making it seem as if winter will never end.  The daffodil are bright sun bursts of yellow a lovely contrast to winter white.

Today,  the daffodils are a cheery yellow.  Outside my window the sun is shining and the sky is blue, although more snow is forecast for tomorrow.

Printmaking

I read an article about ink jet transfer prints.  I have been wanting to try them.  Today, I found a printer on sale, and purchased it.

For subjects, I used my new printer to copy a few of my more recent watercolors.  I printed them on photographic paper.  I tried  creating prints on cards, the paper's color came off on to the photographic paper.  I had a greater success using watercolor paper or a rag bond paper.
With the prints, I then created cards.

Season's firsts

The snow has melted enough that today I saw my first blooming snowdrop of the season.

Snow melt

Morning showers and warm temperatures have assisted with the snow melt.  Our mounds of snow have shrunken.  No longer a pristine white, but covered in grime and dirt.  I reminded of a  "A Patch of Snow" by Robert Frost:

There's a patch of old snow in a corner
That I should have guessed
Was blown away paper the rain
Had brought to rest.

It is speckled with grime as if
Small print over spread it,
The news of a day I've forgotten--
If I ever read it.

Handmade Valentines

 Received

 & Sent

Handmade Valentines are the best.

February 2017 revisted

So, I reread the month of letters challenge.  I am suppose to write a letter each day and mail it.  I guess I got carried away, writing twelve letters and mailing them on the first Sunday of the month.  I do enjoy writing letters, and think those that I receive in return as special little gift.
I did take a moment to write a letter to a friend this evening, as well as this note from Ogden Canyon.

A Valentine Doodle

Remembering Fall

Sunday, I  painted a small remberence of Fall color.

A Memorial Celebration for my Father

On Friday, February 3, 2017, we held a memorial celebration for my father who passed away on January 6th.  He had requested that we celebrate in association with an Art Stroll.  It was a reception and stroll for the Eccles Community Art Center's 20th Statewide Photographic Competition.  This was fitting as my father was a photographer, and in the past he participated  and received awards in this competition.
For the future, we have put aside the donations given in my father's name to present a photography award in memory of my dad.
My mother, brother, niece and I were so pleased to speak with all who came to share their condolences.
A great buffet was set and enjoyed.  A beautiful arrangement of red roses and pussy willows graced the table.  It was a good party, my father would have enjoyed it.

February 2017 continued

Today, I mailed my number 11 and number 12 letters in my challenge of a month of correspondence.  My challenge was less difficult  than I thought as I had thank yous to write for donation made to the Eccles Community Art Center in my father's memory and to send out Valentines.

February 2017

While reading an article on the Victoria Magazine website,  I was informed that February 2017 is write a letter/ correspondence month.  The website lettermo.com challenges us to write a letter, a postcard, a thank you, an I miss you note, send a picture or a clipped newspaper article, share a feather you found on a walkout a swatch of fabric.  Letters/correspondence are gifts which I enjoy sending and receiving.  As this is the fourth of February, I am behind in the challenge of mailing 24 letters.  I do believe that I will be able to catch up, and I am looking forward to writing a few notes to friends.  And as it is February, a few will likely be Valentines.