Planning to escape the cold

So this is what the river two blocks from our house looks like today. Brrrrr! I like snow, but I love the warmth. So this is what I'm planning now:
Yup, I'm going back. When we were there last year, I knew that someday I wanted to go back to Hawaii and have plenty of time to draw. I know I'm no great artist, but when I draw something, it gets burned into my memory in an entirely different way. Later when I look at that drawing in my sketchbook the moment comes back to me in full. Drawing forces you to slow down and really see what you are looking at, as well as fill your senses with the local sounds, smells, feel the breeze and the sun on your back....or hear the rain, feel the chill....whatever is happening around you.

Jennifer working on an art project at the lake.

When I got home I immediately started saving and planning to go back...but I needed the perfect traveling companion....one who liked to draw too and wouldn't get bored with a slower pace. So of course I thought of my sister Jennifer who also loves to draw. I actually tried to get both of my sisters to go, but Holly has to work, so it will just be me and Jennifer traveling at the end of the month.

We have been planning lots of things to draw, time to visit with friends , maybe meet up with another sketcher, and time to go exploring. We have always wanted to travel together and do some artsy kind of trips, so this is like a dream.

Happy New Year!

Honestly, I can hardly believe it's 2010. I remember when 2010 was some distant date they used in the old sci-fi movies!
We shared Christmas day (and dinner) with family...a large group this year, including lots of children, which is always fun! This is me (in the middle) with my sis and sis-in-law/cousin.

I've been such a bad blogger...never posting. A couple of months ago I painted the dining room and changed it from red to a light green. The paint is from Ace and I think the color is called Prairie Grass. This room was red so I did prime it first, but usually I don't even have to prime with Ace paint. It covers really well. The red was nice, but after 6 years, I was ready for a change and I'm loving how much lighter the room is now.

I love having a place for the books!

Joe was building a bookcase in the living room and last month he finished it out and we painted that room too. It took two tries, but I like the color we ended up with. Every year I seem to get out less Christmas decorations. This year it was the tree, the mantle, the nativity and a couple of wreaths. Simple, and easy to put away too.

With the windchill at -12 degrees, I'm enjoying knitting up some warm socks that much more. Just started this pair yesterday. My sister and I are planning to get away to someplace where we won't even have to wear socks, and hopefully we'll get lots of drawing and relaxing done while we are there. Tell you more about that tomorrow, if I can actually bring myself to write posts two days in a row!