Self Criticism

You’ve heard the saying “We are our own worst critics.” We tend to be harder on ourselves than others would be. I wonder why that is? I let self criticism keep me from making art for a long time. From time to time I would paint or draw but be dissatisfied with the results and put away the paintbrush. Why didn’t I realize that I was practicing and it didn’t have to be perfect? The best thing I have done for myself is put myself in an art class where I received instruction and guidance but more than that self confidence.

That is why I loved the watercolor classes at Mayville. Susan Giannantonio is an artist from Houston who spends her summers at Chautauqua and shares her talent through local art classes. She not only is a wonderful artist but she is a fabulous teacher who has a way of communicating the love of making art. She demonstrates then frees you to experiment on your own without her hovering over you. She allows you the freedom to just go at it and try. She is very encouraging making you realize that not everything has to be perfect. This is a quote from her website.

“Every new painting is like throwing myself into the water without knowing how to swim.” – Édouard Manet.

So I will continue painting and push down any criticism that I have and just enjoy the joy.

The days don’t get better than this

If I could make up the most perfect summer day it still wouldn’t have been as good as today. I invited my art class friend Cici to go with me to Mayville to a watercolor lesson. We met behind Perkins where she left her car and traveled the hour trip up to the top of Chautauqua Lake to an old historic town. The first thing we did was stop at the Sweet Shop for lunch. It is a small restaurant where you walk up to the counter and look at the board behind to order. I had their special a turkey panini on whole grain bread with cranberry sauce, cream cheese, and walnuts along with a small bowl of couscous. Delish! While we were there we talked to Darlene, the owner who told us all about the things that were on the wall decorating the cafe. 

It was very crowded and in the room we were in there were about ten people eating. We found out they were a choral group from Orlando called Octave and were performing at the Chautauqua Institution that night. Darlene asked them to sing for us and what a treat that was.  

Next we went down the road to the Depot for our art lesson. On the way we saw that the local library was having a book sale so of course we had to stop. Then we went for our lesson which was painting geraniums with watercolor. 

She taught us a neat technique which was to paint the back of a geranium leaf first with dish soap and then with paint and turn it over and press it into the watercolor paper. I loved sitting there among other artists and painting. Cici loved the class so much she is coming next week. Unfortunately I can’t make it . I hope to get to other classes this summer. 

On the way home we stopped at some fruit markets where I picked up some peaches, cherries and strawberries. What an absolutely perfect day!

Beachy

We are far, far away from any beaches but I can’t help adding a few seashells to my summer decor.  

Have you noticed how huge beach themed decorating has become. If I had a home by the ocean what fun I would have putting coral, shells and starfish all over the place. I must admit I have only been to the ocean a few times.  We rented a house in Wildwood, New Jersey once. I tired quickly of the sand which got all over the place and sitting in the sun. I loved swimming in the ocean however.  

Once we stayed with my sister in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina where I loved getting out in the morning on the beach and doing activities in the afternoon. 

When I went with my girlfriends to Orlando we went to a beach near Tampa and watched the performers come out at dusk. So beautiful.  I do want to someday watch the sun set over the ocean. 

Rain

Rainy days should be spent at home with a cup of tea and a good book.  I am doing a lot of reading this summer. I am constantly in search of a good page turner. I start to read and if I don’t find the book grabbing my attention by thirty pages or so I let it go. Sometimes the plots are so similar or the writing not to my taste. When I do find an author I like I try to get more books by her. I especially love a good twisted plot mystery or a thriller that you can’t put down. If you have any recommendations let me know. 

It rained most of the day off and on but in the evening when it stopped Don and I sat outside as night fell just to enjoy the lushness of the growing flowers as the lights around the pond glowed. Everything is so fresh and clean after a good rain. 

Have I told you lately that I love you..ipad?

You all know I love my ipad. It’s the first thing I grab when I wake up in the morning. I still can’t believe that anything I want to learn is readily available right at my fingertips. Just recently I discovered iTunes University. Just a tap on the icon and a whole array of subjects to study opens up. This morning I went to photography and delighted in watching videos about different aspects that will help me improve my photography. I love taking pictures with my ipad or iPhone and manipulating them using artistic apps. 

This was done with Pixlromatic an old app I had forgotten that I had. It is so easy to take a photo and create an entirely different look just by swiping your finger. 

It is so easy and the results are spectacular. I love this easy way to be an artist. 

What do you collect?

When someone asks me “What do you collect?” I have a hard time finding an answer. I used to collect old cookie cutters. In our younger days, when my style was country, Don and I delighted in seeking out auctions or house sales during the weekends. We loved antiques and were always hunting. Don loved old things. He once bought a box full of blackened gas chandelier parts which he polished and turned into a beautiful brass chandelier which still hangs in a room in my house. I would scour the boxes under the tables for very old and odd shaped cookie cutters. I still have them in a box in the attic. I get them out some Christmases just for fun. 

    I am no longer on the hunt to collect but somehow I have accumulated some artichoke things. 

There is something about the shape of an artichoke that fascinates me. The one on the left I got at a resale store very inexpensively. The one on the right is ceramic and shine with silver. The little one in the middle is a tea light holder. 

This one on the left could be used for a thick candle but I have a little artificial plant in it. I gathered them all on the table just for fun. What do you collect...and how do you display them? 

A father, a dad

This picture just melted my heart. Ryan is painting Sara’s nails as if she were in a nail salon. Ryan is an absolutely fabulous father. His life is devoted to his two children and wife and his greatest pleasure is spending time with them. The kids will ask “Can we have family time today?” They choose an activity....camping, hiking, movies, swimming, touring,...and spend the day together. They are always on the move. 

A little pretty

No, I didn’t paint these. I used a program called Waterlogue.  Wish I could do this.  

A cool day

Today looks like it’s going to rain. There is no sunshine and a slight wind is blowing and it is so dark. The rain has made all the plants grow like mad. My climatis is growing nicely up the arch. I remember how Don was so clever to make forms for the stairs because he knew that when we had the concrete poured for the courtyard that there would be left over concrete to make steps. You can also see in this picture how the climbing hydrangea has pushed its way all over the shed behind the garage. 

I am going to have to find a better way to anchor my little picket fence at the top of the bank because the wind last night knocked a lot of it down. There is a chipmunk who has been busy making a home in the rocks at the top of the waterfall. It drives Sadie crazy to watch him run back in forth. She must remember in her glory day when she would chase them and sit for hours waiting for them to come out. 

The hydrangea that I planted in the round planter must like it there. It has increased in size although the blooms are finished. Will it bloom again? I fertilized it so I guess I’ll have to wait and see. 

If any of you know how I can keep that screen up on the French doors I sure would like to know. It keeps falling down and I have tried everything besides nailing it up there which I don’t want to do. 

A project for another day. Today I am visiting a friend to help her with a computer problem.

Bliss

How do you know when you are following your bliss? When what you do is making you so happy you could burst. That is how I felt today when I was at my watercolor class. It is held in the most beautiful setting, right on the lake. Today it was rainy so I didn’t get to enjoy walking by the lake. The old trolly depot is large and has been turned into an art studio where Susan teaching watercolor classes during the summer. In the winter she lives in Houston. That is her in the pink demonstrating a watercolor technique where the paper was painted with gesso and the paint could be picked up afterwards. 

Susan had picked a bouquet of various flowers which we painted. It was so relaxing to sit among other artists and paint. Susan will be taking a group to Normandy France in the late summer to paint and I would love to go with her. 

These peonies would make a great subject for a painting. I had such a lovely day. I wish I lived closer an could take the callers more often. I hope to take at least one more this summer. 

This is what I chose to paint today. And this is how it turned out. 

NOW ISN’T THAT BETTER?

What a difference a little haircut makes. The vine looks a lot better now. And I can actually see out the kitchen windows. 

This is not a great picture but we have had a Baltimore Oriole eating from the hummingbird feeder. 

I’m getting ready to go to a watercolor color class in Mayville NY today. Last year when my sisters were here we took a class at Mayville Watercolors at the Depot. It is a beautiful setting right at the northern tip of Chautauqua Lake (about an hour and a half from here). This is an immersion lesson which will teach me a new watercolor technique. Susan the instructor is from Texas and spends here summers here. She is an excellent teacher and very encouraging. I’m so excited about today. 

ON TO THE NEXT PROJECT

How do you like that vine growing outside my kitchen?  I think it is a trumpet vine although only one time has it every had ONE and only one flower. It must love its location because it keeps on growing like Jack’s beanstalk. Don’s job for today is to give it a haircut.  One time a few years ago it actually found a way to grow right into the attic. You can see how it is starting to crawl right over the roof. 

Dan and Gretchen

My oldest grandson Dan and his wife Gretchen

My hat goes off to this young couple. Gretchen is training for a triathlon and is busy every day either running, swimming or riding her bike (she never rode a bike until this last year). Dan often trains with her. They live in Pittsburgh and have such full lives. They love to travel and went to Ireland this Spring.  Next they are off to Hawaii again. Dan inspects nuclear submarines and has to go there for work so Gretchen goes along too. You can check out there activities at her blog Gretch Runs on my sidebar. 

MY NEW RIDE

Over the weekend we went to Carlisle to visit Chris and Scott. I have been thinking about getting a new car for a while now. Don’s truck is getting in need of repairs and he was willing to give it up and take my Town and Country as his car if I got a new one. We wanted to deal with Blue Knob Auto outside of Altoona because they are known for their low prices. They do not dicker on price..what you see is what you pay but it is lower than most dealers around. When we checked online on Thursday they had lots of Pacificas. They no longer make Town and Countrys and this is their newer version. But most of them had a black interior. Since Sadie has white hair that just wouldn’t do. So we decided not to stop there on the way down to Chris’. Friday night when we were eating at the Cracker Barrel we got to talking about getting a new car and I asked the Universe to give me just the one I wanted. I didn’t want silver or white or black but blue or red would be nice with a light interior. On Saturday morning Chris came to me and said that the Universe took exactly sixteen hours to find me the one I wanted. Blue Knob Auto had put a new one on their website..blue with light interior. The interior is called cognac and toffee (ivory and brown). So we traveled the two hours up there and after the long process of paperwork came home with a new car. This dealership sells up to 70 cars on a Saturday and they were so busy. I love my new ride. 

Outdoors at Chatham Lane

This week we have had outdoor help. We realize that we can no longer lift heavy bags of mulch or trim bushes. Things Don always has been able to do in the past are now too hard for someone who has COPD and has difficulty breathing. And I admit that I do not any longer have the energy that I once had to work in the garden for so many hours. We were lucky to find a great friend who we could hire and does excellent work. It is so satisfying to see the outdoor work get done and how nice it looks. 

Hydrangea

I planted a hydrangea in a large pot this year. It seems very happy there.  

I’ve been on an organizing streak and yesterday cleaned out my linen closet. I went through all my old medicines and took a bag full to the police station where you can throw away old prescriptions. 

I’ve been in a throw away, give away mode and it makes me so happy to have something leave the house. The less I have, the happier I get. Now if I could only let go of some of my decorations. 

My gal friends and I went to see Ocean’s Eight.  Loved it!  

Lots of rain has kept the flowers watered. 

Reading Patterson’s 17th suspect. Always a quick and easy read. 

Writing in abbreviated sentences today..why?  LOL

No coffee group this am...I slept in till nine instead of getting up before seven. 

Enjoy your day whatever you will do.  

Summer walk

Up the hill we go on our walk on the university trail. 

The blackberry bushes were in blossom and perfumed the air. 

How I love summer.  

Peonies

Nothing announces the start of the summer season like the bloom of peonies. These large flower heads and the sweet smell tell us that the joy of blooming season is upon us. 

The quiet rainy wet day yesterday kept us inside. It was a lazy day and I alternated between binge watching Bosch and doing a few chores around the house. I have a stack of books just waiting and I’m trying to get in as much reading time as I can. 

Just being silly

Yesterday we traveled to Erie to attend a graduation party for Kaitlyn, Don’s stepbrother’s granddaughter. It was held at a small park which was so private that we were the only ones there in the single large pavilion. There were two tennis courts and a ball field that we had all to ourselves. 

Don and his brother Jim.

There was a generous buffet of food but the highlight was the candy bar with galvanized buckets filled with all sorts of candy bars which were loaded into blue bags to take home. It was a great day to be with family. The weather was overcast and only seventy which actually was a perfect temperature to be outdoors, not too hot and not too cold. 

 I made a quick stop at the Millcreek Mall since we went right by and found two small white floating shelves at At Home to put in my freshly repainted bathroom. After we got home we watched a few more episodes of Bosch, an Amazon Prime series which is based on the books of Michael Connelly. I was in bed early after a busy day. 

Busy grandkids

Sean..playing ball, red shirt.....is at his first week long stay away camp. Having a ball. 

Sara had her gymnastic performance. She is only seven....going on nineteen. 

In the Jungle

I am a dishaholic which means I have a hard time passing up a cute plate. These darling leopard spotted plates I found at a Goodwill in Virginia. I only got four which is all I needed to set a jungle themed table. 

I already had spotted placemats so the plates fit right in along with copper chargers and bamboo silverware. 

I kept the centerpiece simple with a nail studded tray, black lantern, copper bowl and some greenery...easy, peasy. 

When I find a good book all I want to do is read all day and night. This one kept my attention and I finished it sitting on the swing as it was getting dark. Nice twists and turns...who dun it? 

Giggle girls yesterday was hilarious. Somehow this group of classmates has just clicked and we get along so well. We usually play Michigan Rummy but when one of us can’t make it we play Marbles. For some reason that game has us laughing our heads off. We play like senile old ladies not remembering whose turn it is half the time because we stop to chat right in the middle of playing. It is so much fun..