Connection reestablished

I have been unable to connect for a few days, after receiving technical help I am reconnected.

Sketchbook

Been away from my computer, but had a day to draw in my sketchbook and to paint.

The scent of a bonfire

It snowed yesterday; not just a dusting, but a few inches.  Snow covered the bright yellow daffodils and clung to the flowering fruit trees.

Today, the sun is out. The snow melted, except in the shadows.  The day seems perfect for enjoying an annual family tradition: Eastering.  My Grandfather Bachman started this tradition of going Eastering - getting out to enjoy the spring day the saturday before Easter with a hike, a picnic and baskets hidden by the Easter Bunny.

We, the children in the back of my grandfather's plumbing truck, the parents following in their vehicles - my mother in her station wagon, would head to the foothills.  Upon a arrival tables would be set up then filled with picnic food.  We would put together stone rings for fire pits, and roast hot dogs and marshmellows.

Today, the scent of the bonfire reminds me of my grandfather's Eastering traditions.  His family has grown so large with great grand children and great great grand children that we have split into smaller family groups.  Our family, with mother as the head no longer head to the foothills, but go instead to our cabin in Southfork.  The older members of our family appreciate being indoors.  We no longer have hot dogs and marshmellows, but settle for cold cuts and potato salad.

Just up the road my cousins are also Eastering at their cabin.  They continue the tradition of hot dogs and marshmellows cooked over a bonfire.  Thus the scent of memories.

Pretty little pansies of purple and gold...

I have a pot of pansies on my doorstep.  The have such sweet faces that follow the sunshine.  A sign of spring!

We had morning snow, but after yesterday's near 80 degree temperatures it did not stick.

Now, the sun and clouds are playing hide and seek with each other.

April Fools Day

My Grandfather was born on April 1st, April Fools Day.  He didn't let this get him down, he decided to own the day and enjoyed playing April Fools jokes on people.  I am not sure what type of jokes he played on others, but the ones he played on me were usually pretty tame.  He would call to tell us that his dog had kittens or that he had witnesses an accident - Washington Boulevard ran into Canyon Road (they do intersect).

This morning, in his tradition, I sent a text to my niece who lives in Hawaii that I was at the airport wondering when she was going to pick me up?  The following text said April Fools.  Yes, I know a pretty tame April Fools day prank.

I hope that you had a laugh or two on April 1st.

Spring

The apricot blossoms are starting to drop, peach trees and magnolias are blooming.  The leaves of the chokecherries have popped out.  Butterflies flutter by.  Spring is amazing, especially at how fast it appears.  Unfortunately a spring snow is expected on Sunday.

Beauty of a Spring Day

The crisp white snow on Mount Ogden and Ben Lomond glistened in relief against the backdop of a blue sky filled with fluffy cumulus clouds.  Blossoms on the apricot trees and forsythia bushes burst open.  Daffodils and violets are in bloom.  A beautiful Spring Day.

Correspondence

Yesterday, I received a letter from Honeysuckle lane, Honolulu, Hawaii.  What a surprise, and lovely gift from my niece.  The gift of handwritten correspondence, so much more than a call or a text message.

My mother received a similar gift.  We enjoyed sharing our letters with each other.

Thank you ~ MandiAnne.

Still snowing!

Just finished Deborah Harkness' Discovery of Witches.  I am looking forward to Shadow of Night.

It is snowing!

Early snowdrops

I picked early snowdrops today.  The day was sunny, but cold as was our walk.   I brought the small bouquet of snowdrops home to enjoy.  They are blooming in a small cream pitcher on the windowsill above my kitchen sink.  A small touch of spring!

Clyde comes to live at my house

Clyde with his deliciously large cookie, an Etsy purchase from Lorraine Young Pottery, came to live with Mollie and I.

Isn't he handsome!

Bookstore

I visited the bookstore today, and of course added more books to my bookshelf, waiting to be read.

Relaxing

Ymm! A hot bath!  The bathroom is filled with lavender scented steam.

Happy Valentines Day!

Illuminated Spring D

Still drawing letters.

Small Conversations

I have often thought that the handwritten letter as my favorite form of  correspondence.  In this modern age of e-mails, telephone conversations and text messages, I still write letters.  Although, I also use all these other forms of communication.  

Members of my family and friends have travelled away from my Ogden Canyon home.  I find ways of communicating with them, checking in with them.  I enjoy any form of communication I receive, wonderful gifts of their time.

Interestingly, I find I miss those small conversations that are shared while doing the dishes, driving in the car or a small job at work.  The sharing of stories, remembering of past experiences, a shared joke.  The small conversations that don't transfer well into the written word.

Aaah!

The weekend, time to relax and reboot!

Too

Too many projects, thoughts and ideas spinning around in my head.  Mostly work related.  I am putting together the Spring and Summer Class Schedule, preparing a press release for the March exhibit, taking reservations, cataloging art and preparing for the center's annual fundraising art auction.  -Overload-  psst!

Sunset/Moonrise

A lovely sunny winter Saturday, ends.