Rockford Summer Blues Series

My wife and I walked downtown this evening and had a great time at the Rockford Summer Blues Series concert. Tonight was the first concert of the season. The weather was great...nice and warm. Lots of people, good chocolate ice cream, and fun music. A good way to spend the evening!

Shhh–It's a Secret!

Lincoln Park, Chicago: The Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool is one of Chicago's best kept secrets. It's a beautiful little pond filled with wonderful surprises depending on the season. Monday there were geese and goslings, ducks and ducklings, water lilies and irises, and urban sketchers. We had a great time!

Snowcapped Mountains/Alpine Meadows/Rushing Water

We stayed for a week in a cabin along Icicle Creek in Leavenworth, Washington. The east-facing peaks of the Cascades, still snowcapped, contrasted with the lush, new green at the lower elevations. Everyday, we hiked--in the towering forests, along rushing creeks and rivers, to a glacial lake, through alpine meadows filled with spring flowers. I drew less than usual because I felt flu-y for the first 3 days.

                                                               

Camas Meadow from the Ridge

                           

Camas flower

     

   

Twin Falls

           

Bush Sunlit Across the Creek

Saturday Night in Westport...

We checked out the Westport Flea Market Bar & Grill...dinner with Batman feels so safe, somehow...

Then off to English Country Dancing, which Joseph loves...he danced, I sketched.  FAST.

And of course I added the color and bits of the program after I got home...

Had the opportunity to be in Baldwin City, KS this past Saturday.  This building was built in 1914 as the Wes-Hartley Lumber Co.  It is now the Lumberyard Arts Center and has been very well done.  Inside it retains much of the character of the original structure.  It was a nice day to visit.

some ancient graves

This past Saturday, we drove to Pawnee Rock to attend Bill's aunt's funeral.  Arriving there too early (a common habit with Bill), we walked around looking for the oldest gravestones --- many from the civil war and earlier. The ones I sketched here are all children, the oldest one possibly the one now being embraced by a red cedar tree.

Popping up everywhere were these sweet wild geraniums. The ancient cemetery would have been quite peaceful if it were not for the fierce, cold Kansas winds.

Under and Over

I was in downtown Rockford, Mi this afternoon and sketched our old rail bridge. Rather than tracks, these days the old bridge hosts a section of Michigan's White Pine Trail and provides a path across the Rogue river which runs through Rockford. The White Pine Trail runs well north of Rockford and is heavily used by area cyclists, runners, and walkers. It's a great trail with wonderful scenery...some of which I've seen from the seat of my bicycle as I've pedaled along the trail. The over pass provides the main highway in and out of town. Personally I prefer the trail! Following same makes for about a 10 minute walk from downtown Rockford to our new condo.