Summer harvest: Nectarine - Lime Jam

You might wonder what I've been up to .... lots of excitement with a son's college graduation, two sons home for the summer, visiting the other son, and FRUIT in our backyard. We've enjoyed lots of fresh fruit, but we had more than we could consume. So, not wanting to let it go to waste.... husband and I have kept very busy.... He has been canning lots of fruit as his mother did, and I've been making jam. This year I've made Nectarine - Lime Jam from a recipe that was printed in our local paper, and I think that the lime keeps the jam from being "too sweet". 


How is your summer going???

The view from my Son's window...

My oldest son has been sharing some photos of his time in Japan. I was quite taken with this photo as it shows part of his plane (P3) contrasted with a beautiful sunset or sunrise (I can't tell which one). I felt as if the photo was calling me to paint it - and I considered it a challenge. Thinking about my son last night, as he nears the end of this deployment in Japan, got me inspired to take on the challenge and paint this image. As I was painting I was thinking of how this has been a fun way for me to keep in touch with my son despite the many, many miles between us. I can't wait to see him again!!!

P.S. I've included his original photo in case your're interested in the view that inspired this.  

Martial Cottle Park

I'm very excited that a new Park, the Martial Cottle Park, is coming to an area near my home. It will focus on preserving a bit of history of the Santa Clara Valley. The valley was once promoted as the  "Valley of the Hearts Delight", after two centuries of an agricultural economy started by the Spanish missionaries. Over time the focus in the valley shifted from agriculture, including many orchards, to technology. We are very fortunate that Mr. Walter Cottle Lester generously gifted some of this special property to the County of Santa Clara in combination with the State of California for the purpose of a community park. The park is named after Mr. Lester's grandfather. 

Feeling like a trip to the Beach

I'm in the mood for a trip to the beach. This image was done recently for Laure Ferlita's Imaginary Trip to the Beach class. The class sure gave me a fun way to counter the winter weather by dreaming of the beach! But, now I'm ready to go visit the beach for real!

New Orleans Adventure: Walking tour and Andrew Jackson Statue

Our walking tour took us all through the French Quarter of New Orleans. I've got so many pictures that I want to sketch, and I want to fill up my trip journal - I'm not quite half way through it. I took one shot of this Jackson statue and captured a silhouette effect against the evening sky. I really enjoyed painting it.

Although I would have loved to have finished my journal on the trip, or shortly after I arrived home..... I have to say that I'm really enjoying ... s t r e t c h i n g ...... the adventure out longer as I continue to fill in my journal. Since I can't take frequent trips (limits on both time and $), it is nice to know how much I can enjoy my memories while continuing to work on my travel journal at home. I relive my travel memories at night, and it is back to work in the morning.....

Spring Surprise

"Spring is in the Air"!! I came home recently to find a charming basket of mini-Daffodils on our kitchen table. I was thrilled that my husband had thought to surprise me with this sign of Spring. It was the perfect inspiration for another page in my journal which will be a nice memory page.

Thinking of Spring and Summer

I just finished Laure's Imaginary Trip to the Beach class... and I enjoyed it so much that I wanted to do another Hibiscus tonight! Lots of fun.