Winter 2020

It's been a mild winter, thus far, in central Pennsylvania. Here is some of the beauty which we've enjoyed this year, although snow has been at a minimum! More rain than snow, but I'll post the snow photos to celebrate the winter as it fades softly into Spring...

This is to remind this Minnesota-born and bred lady what Winter is supposed to look like all the time!

Winter Has Arrived along with December!

Our December snowfall, before it melted away. As a Minnesota native, I LOVE the winter snows! Snow brightens all the dark days by laying a layer of white everywhere. Alas, here in central PA, the snow rarely lasts long, so it turns to slush and mud quickly. But while it is here, I'm always thrilled!

As you can see, it's not much, by Minnesota, Vermont, or Maine standards. But it sure is beautiful when it's new and fresh. Ever notice how quiet it is outside when it's snowing? All those snowflakes must also absorb sound, because it's always magically quiet in a soft snowfall. Now a windy, blustery, stormy snow - that's another animal altogether...

Meanwhile, I completed two autumnal collages for our Bellefonte Art Museum Annual Christmas Show & Sale.

The one on the left, entitled "The Lost Chord" from the sheet music in the background, has already sold. So it's been replace by the one on the right, entitled "Autumn in Pennsylvania." Had a lot of fun doing these. I've not done collages in the past, so it was a happy experiment that I enjoyed doing. I printed some of my photos on sheer organza prepared for inkjet printers. Then cut them apart and rearranged them with natural object, art, and papers. So much fun. A new medium to explore!!!

My other framed entry is a watercolor with graphite of one of the great-grands. I call this one "Stars & Stripes" - alternately, "Save the Children."

And I'm somehow revived during the cold, dark season....probably because I've just received my orders of another new medium: Pan Pastels!

Check out Pan Pastels on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=pan+pastels+techniques

I'm participating in an upcoming exhibit honoring women in our community. Each woman is having her portrait done by one of our Bellefonte Art Museum member artists. I need to complete the portrait within the next month - for many reasons! Mostly so it can be framed for the special exhibit in March 2020 at the Museum. Also, because Frank will be having a total reverse shoulder replacement at the end of this month, so I'll be a tad busy after that!

So I'll be experimenting with pan pastels for the next week or so until I feel a tad confident that I can do a great portrait of a wonderful woman in our community, to be honored in March! Wish me luck!!!

It's March!

This farm is located as you come into town on business 322, South Atherton Street. I love watching the seasons change on this farm - I drive by it regularly on my way to/from a number of locations. It's such a photogenic farm!

It's still winter in central PA - not a lot of snow left on the ground, but temps are hovering around the freezing mark day in and day out.

The twins are now 7 months old - amazing! They are so darned cute & we are enjoying them SO much. We loved having our own children, but were obsessed with how they behaved & what we were supposed to be doing as parents. We loved having our little grandkids living with us for several years, too. But much of that time was spent trying to figure out how not to interfere while still being a big part of their lives. Now, with the great-grandchildren, we're simply living in each moment and enjoying all of the moments.