Vacation & Art

This past week Daniel has been on break from teaching, which means it's been both a relaxing and a busy week for us. It has also made it difficult for me to visit many of your blogs, which I intend to remedy this weekend!

We decided to go away for a few days and visit Apalachicola, a small town in the panhandle area of Florida. We loved it!

There really wasn't much to do around there, except walk around town, eat in several very good restaurants, visit the local coffee shop, the excellent bakery and a few of the galleries.

We were pleased to see that Apalachicola also has their very own brewery, where we sat for a while, tasted their excellent beer and talked with some interesting people.

On one of the days, we drove to a river that originates in one of Florida's warm springs. Our hope was to maybe see some manatees. They come to the warm springs in the colder weather as they need warm water temperatures to survive.

Alas, there were none to be seen, but we still had a gorgeous paddle! It took us two hours to paddle upstream, but just one hour to get back. The way back was definitely more relaxing.

We did see a few alligators and we both noticed how used to them we have gotten over the years. We didn't even take photos.

The scenery was gorgeous!

We rented a tandem paddle, which was fun! I was in the front because Daniel is so much better at steering than I am.

The water looked dark, but it was crystal clear.

We saw lots of lots of turtles. I loved how the one above was stretching out its hind legs. Very graceful... In the photo below an Anhinga was drying its wings.

Back home, I have been busy working on our taxes (oh, joy!) and also doing some painting. I am working on all kinds of things at the moment. Below is a detail of a large painting, which I am sure will change drastically, but I sort of liked this somewhat raw stage.

Then I've been taking the online class "Expressions" by Renata Loree, which is really good. I'm somewhat behind since we were on vacation when it started, but luckily it's self-paced.

I will be drawing different face and head angels and also expressions (like the worried one on the drawing below). Another part of the class will be dealing with hands. That will be a challenge! Drawing in general is a challenge for me since it requires a good deal of patience, which I often lack... Good practice!

And then, of course, there are my little paintings. I have three in the works right now, but none finished to show you.

I am linking again to Paint Party Friday, a great hub for artistic inspiration! Head on over to have a look!

In the meantime, I wish all of you who celebrate a Happy Easter! And definitely a beautiful week for all of us!

❧ Silke

This 'n' That

Yesterday, the weather was perfectly gorgeous, which was good because we had a kayaking outing planned to a secret island. 

Notice how we have no photos from our trip there? That's because it was such a chore kayaking across and up the Savannah River that we had no time for photos. We were going against the tide and the strong river current.

If you got swept out to sea your next stop would be Africa! Well, not quite, but I wasn't going to let that river take me in the wrong direction because ... well, because Daniel had all the food in his kayak! You all know how much I like to eat...and that's just what we did when we got to the island.

After lunch, we wandered around for a couple of hours looking for fossilized sharks teeth, bones and what ever else we could find.

I cannot tell you how heavenly it was being with a group of like-minded people...

and at the same time being able to wander off in complete solitude.

It was so peaceful!

After this big freighter came by,

we decided to make our way back across the river.

This time it was much easier going with the current, although against the tide once again.

Here I am paddling away - it was wonderful!!

And here are the treasures everyone found. By far, the most exciting find was the spearhead, which one of the ladies found! I found the big bone in the middle, Daniel found a fossilized stingray barb, and the three whelk shells are ours as well.  Yeah!!

In other news, Winslow and Ramses were enjoying the sunshine as well, spending most of the weekend outside!

And the wrens built a nest in the same place as last year - the hanging fern right outside our front door. I was so happy to see them back. You wouldn't believe how fast they built that little nest - only took them about a day! Such busy little birds...

And ... big drum roll please ... today I had my first drawing class, which was sooo much fun!! After our professor lectured about drawing in general, we actually started drawing - standing up at an easel! WOW!! We drew lines and figure eights and circles and finished the class with a couple of blind contour drawings, which were very interesting to do.

In blind contour drawing, you look at the object you are drawing and not at all at the paper. Then, as your eyes follow every line of your object, you draw those lines on your paper without lifting up the pencil. First we drew our hands and then a skeleton's leg and foot. Both drawings looked nothing like the objects, but my professor thought they were very good. I cannot tell you how hard it was not to peak at what I was drawing - and the finished pieces made me chuckle...

That's all the news from here for now. I hope that you are all doing well and wish you a wonderful week ahead!!

P.S. Thank you so much for all your encouraging comments on my last painting! I loved how some of you thought he was an athlete or dancer. Dancer was my first thought when he appeared on the canvas... I keep seeing something done with the background of that painting, so I think I'll work on it some more! I'll keep you updated.

Guess what we did today?!

It was wonderful, it was hot, it was humid and we had the best time!! Off to take a shower now and then maybe a little nap...

Happy Sunday, everyone!

P.S. If you want to read more about the little Cockspur Island Lighthouse, built in the early 1800's, click here.

Kayaking & Painting My First Tag

On Sunday, Daniel went kayaking with a small group of local kayakers.
They left from Tybee Island and paddled over to Little Tybee, which is completely uninhabited and actually much larger than Tybee.
Once on Little Tybee, they walked around and explored the vast beaches and natural beauty of the island.



This was the little dog that came along in one of the kayaks!

Daniel had a wonderful time and I think next time I might go with them all...
Now, the other day at the craft store, I saw a package of tags and decided to grab it and try my hand at painting a tag. I had such fun!! I used some torn papers, and some image transfers I had lying around.
And then, for good measure, I painted the back side as well.
I painted a few other things as well, which I still have to scan and will show you later this week. Make sure you stop by for tomorrow Wordless Wednesday - it's a great photo Daniel took in Mississippi last year!

Wishing you all a most wonderful day! You certainly always add sparkle to mine Thank you for that!!