It’s been another hot week here, thus resulting in a lot of painting time. However, regardless of the heat, we’ve still managed to enjoy eating most of our meals on our screen porch, especially with the fan running. The visitors at the feeders and bird bath in secret garden at these times have been at a minimum though, as I think everyone must be somewhere trying to keep cool. In the mornings, however, I have quite a few visitors that come and enjoy their peanut crunchies and peanut butter bread treats.
One of our lovely male Hummingbirds keeping watch from the stick tree.
The hummingbirds are coming regularly throughout the day now, so they’re keeping me quite busy with making nectar and refilling feeders. There’s one female in particular that has become quite possessive of the feeder on the back deck and continually dive bombs any bird, be it Chickadee, Titmouse or any other that comes and sits on the stick tree trying to eat their peanut crunchies in peace. She continues chasing them all over the tree until she has successfully chased them off. They just look at her like “What is your problem?” as they’re trying their best to ignore her relentless attacks. This is proof once again that sometimes dynamite comes in small packages!
Precious "Scarlett" the Chipmunk enjoying her share of the peanut crunchies.
We are so happy to be seeing a couple of bunnies out and about in our yard again. We’re thinking that one might be nesting in one of our asparagus beds. Although we haven’t personally seen them lately, there’s evidence between the muddy birdbaths some mornings and the “scattered scat” piles along the path, that the raccoons are still visiting our yard at night. Little “Scarlett” as we have come to call her is once again returning to the top deck on some days, to get her share of the peanut crunchies. This precious chipmunk has a scar on the left side of her face, hence her name. She has been one of our favorite residents for several years now and appears to be doing as good as ever!
"Uncle Don" by Wes, measures 2¾ inches.
Wes finished his miniature portrait “Uncle Don” this past week. This is one of one our dear friends that seems like family to us, hence the title. This painting was done from one of the photos we took of Don during one of our past visits to his place in North Carolina.
Currently on the easels: I’m continuing to paint on an interior still life of tobacco hung up to dry, accompanied by a few other things like an old straw hat, basket, and copper lantern all being lit nicely by a flood of warm sunlight that’s streaming through a large window. This miniature is being done from a beautiful photo that my Dad took during our recent visit to Locust Grove, while we were in Indiana on vacation last month. Wes is currently painting on a miniature of a Coot which he is doing from another photo taken while we were in Florida last January.
I continue to hope that you all are keeping cool, as many of us eagerly look forward to the cooler weather of fall!
Sally, Larry, Nana, me and Earl with Louisville, KY in the background.
Wow . . . the week went by so fast!! I can’t believe my mom, Sally, and dad, Larry, have come and gone already! They arrived last Saturday evening in time for a supper consisting of fresh green beans out of the garden along with my homemade carrot soufflé, salmon patties and lots of freshly sliced tomatoes out of the garden . . . yummy!! For dessert, we enjoyed my homemade chocolate blueberry cake with dark chocolate icing. Needless to say they kicked off their vacation with full tummies! After letting them catch up on some much needed rest Sunday, the four of us headed for Indiana to visit Wes’ family for a couple of days. We arrived in time for supper with all of the family Monday evening at a lovely restaurant on the water called the Kingfish. It was a delightful time of catching up with lots of talking, laughing, storytelling and eating.
The family enjoying a nice supper and evening at the Kingfish.
Tuesday morning we hit the ground running as we tried to show my parents as much of Louisville and the surrounding area as possible. We started off with a tour of the beautiful Culbertson Mansion in New Albany, IN. What a lovely and delightful time it was with just the 6 of us being given a very interesting and informative tour by a very nice lady. She shared some of the personal history and tidbits from the families’ past through different stories she told, making it all so very intriguing and adding to the overall grand experience. The home was simply divine inside with the restored interior filled with gorgeous antiques from the proper period.
Jeanie, Sally, George, Larry, me and Wes in the Culbertson Mansion.The beautiful Culbertson Mansion in New ALbany, IN was built between 1863 & 1867.
Upon leaving the mansion we took my mom and dad to experience another first, eating at a White Castle. Having been told by Wes, about this well known restaurant for many years, they finally got to taste a “slider”. This is the one time a year that Wes, being a vegetarian along with me, will eat a bit of red meat. I always have their little fish sandwiches with their signature grilled onions on it. And of course, we have to have a Big Red! We also stopped before lunch to see the Portland Canal and McAlpine locks, there in Louisville, on the Ohio River. It was quite interesting and while we were there, they were locking through a tug boat pushing several barges . . . talk about perfect timing!
My mom and dad on their first visit to a White Castle.The amazing Portland Canal and McAlpine locks on the Ohio River in Louisville, KY.
We were hoping to take my parents to the Speed Art Museum, but after arriving there, we realized it was closed, so off we went and ended up at the Historic Locust Grove established by William and Lucy Clark Croghan in 1790. There we spent the afternoon enjoying a wonderful and informative tour of the beautiful home and grounds. Wes and I particularly found the fact that John James Audubon had spent some time there, of great interest, as well as the fact that 3 presidents had stayed there at different times. The neat part is that visitors still walk over the same threshold when entering the home today, as did as all of these important historic persons in the past.
The beautiful historic Locust Grove in Louisville, KY.
That evening, we were treated to a pleasant and lovely ride on Wes’ brother Greg’s boat. It was a beautiful evening as we casually rode down the Ohio River, taking in all of the sights as we headed for our destination, a tex-mex restaurant called Tumbleweed. We arrived with an appetite after all of the fresh air, and enjoyed our meal and time of visiting. The return ride was quite pleasant as well, as I went “down below” to color with our nephew, Will. Will and I had great fun creating, drawing and coloring the Happy dinosaur and his friends as we went along the river with an occasional “whoa” when the boat would do a bit of rocking from side to side! Toward the end of the ride, Will and I returned to the deck and presented our interesting and quite entertaining play of how Happy dinosaur and his friends, including a boulder that communicates by use of the Morse code, along with a flower and butterfly among others, saves the environment from the oil spill and an evil Villan. I know everyone was very thankful that the marina was empty as we pulled in with Will and I leading them all in the happy dinosaur song. When 2 creative minds get together, things happen!
Us enjoying a delightful boat ride with "Capt. Will".
Wednesday morning we had a very nice and memorable visit with Wes’ Nana and our dear adopted family member, her boyfriend, Earl. After enjoying a quick lunch together, we said our goodbyes and headed home to the smoky mountains. Thursday evening we had a picnic in the Cades Cove picnic area and did some great sightseeing as we drove around the loop road in the cove. We stopped to pet and feed the beautiful and very happy horses that had just been turned out to pasture. They were great fun to watch as they ran along kicking up the dust and it slowly disappearing, all being lit by the lovely and strong evening sun. We also saw a good sized Black Bear along one trail that we walked and a couple more before the night was over along with several deer and turkey. Friday morning we enjoyed a lovely visit with artist friend Tricia, at her studio in the woods and stopped on the way out to pick a few fresh blueberries. That evening it was time for dinner at Pizza Hut and a concert at the Heritage Center with some friends. The week had passed all too quickly and Saturday morning my parents left to return home to Florida. It was a wonderful time together and we made many great memories in our busy week!!
A visit with artist friend Tricia in her studio.
We were delighted to learn this past week that all four of our paintings were accepted into to the Biennial Kentucky National Wildlife Art Exhibit that runs September. 18 – November 5, 2010 at the beautiful Henderson Fine Arts Center in Henderson, KY.
Mom, Dad and I on a bridge in the beautiful Tremont area of the Smokies.
On the easels: I’m putting the finishing touches on “Michael the Archangel”, so hopefully I’ll be able to share the finished miniature next week. Wes is currently painting on a miniature of a sweet dove baby.
Us in front of one of the beautiful fields in Cades cove.
The morning was perfect as we mounted our bikes and began our journey around cades cove. With the absence of fog, we could see forever as we first entered the small one lane road. The air was quite cool and after descending down the first hill with the cold air blowing across my skin, the goose bumps surfaced and Wes laughed as he peeked over to see whether or not they were yet showing. Several Tom Turkeys were the first greeters of the morning as they gallantly and slowly strolled through the field to the left of us, searching for edible tidbits for their breakfast. It was a lovely sight with hundreds of the white, lacy flowers of Queen Anne’s Lace along with a few yellow Black-eyed Susies and Daisies scattered about. It served as a beautiful diner for these turkeys to enjoy as they began their day. Around the next few curves we came upon a White-tailed Deer peacefully grazing and switching its short white fluffy tail back and forth.
Me with the cantilever barn in the cove.
Being warmed up and having enjoyed gentle sloping declines and ascents thus far, we were ready for “the hill” as we, on bikes, like to refer to one of the 2 hills that take a bit of endurance and work to ride up. With hearts rapidly pounding, we were then awarded with a nice downward sloping hill on which to coast and let the cool breeze blow through our hair. Seeing the beautiful old churches in the cove standing alone without being surrounded by cars and people, they seem to have such a peaceful and serene look to them drawing one to come in, sit and rest awhile. Rounding yet another curve we came into a clearing that delighted with a 360 degree view of flowering fields with the mountains serving as the backdrop in the distance. Another deer was spotted at a distance, in a field before taking a few minutes break while eating our banana. Being fully recharged with our super food, we started on our way once again, slowly meandering around curves, up hills and down hills.
Wes taking a photo while waiting for me to catch up after taking other photos.
Towards the end of the loop we saw another deer and a lone turkey enjoying their solitude in one of the fields rich with the native grasses. Minutes before exiting the loop road, we experienced one of those “wow” moments when I so wish I would’ve had my camera ready. Just to the right of the heavily forest lined road a carriage being drawn by a handsome black horse was making its way down the horse trail when suddenly the entire thing was lit by a few rays of sunlight penetrating the dense woods, with the soft shady colors surrounding the glowing horse and buggy, it became an ethereal setting! Oh, if only I had a photographic memory at times such as this or either a quicker draw on the camera! We finished off the wonderful morning experience with a traditional lunch at Pizza Hut for our anniversary. Why Pizza Hut, well because that’s where we had our very first date almost 21 years ago. It was a wonderful way to celebrate our Anniversary.
"Functional Design" by Wes, measures 3 X 2 inches.
Fresh off the easel; Wes finished his painting “Functional Design” this past week.
On the easels; I’m continuing to paint on a commission of a wonderful miniature of Reni’s “Michael the Archangel”. I hope to finish it this next week and will share it as soon as I do so.
My parents arrived this past Saturday evening, so we’ve been really enjoying their company and just relaxing a bit. The 4 of us arrived in southern Indiana later today in time to enjoy a wonderful dinner at the Kingfish with Wes’ entire family! Lots of talking, laughing, eating and catching up! I’ll share some highlights form the visits with our families next week.
Under the Magnifying Glass 