Slice of Life...Spring Break?

It's Spring Break here in Oregon and the weather has been - well - Oregon like.

The latest challenge from Karin Jurick and the Different Strokes from Different Folks blog is Beach Family.

I was thinking of a more tropical location than the reference photo suggests. Take me to Florida at least and the Bahamas would be even better.

So here's my wishful thinking entry. Tropical beach and the cast of thousands are elsewhere.

How do you feel about food with a face?

This painting is based on a photo shared by Loredana.
Thanks Lore for the photo and reminding me of my trip to Italy so many years ago.

It was Spring and I was a "worldly" 17 year old, on my first trip without family.
Several friends - in a student group taking a tour of Italy, Switzerland and the Netherlands. Limited free time but certainly enough for me to wander and explore.

We arrived in Florence on Good Friday and weren't able to find anyplace open for lunch. Between 12 and 3PM everything was closed.

By suppertime, I was starved. I eagerly ordered fish and what I thought was 2 glasses of wine. Exchange rate was much better, so I got 2 bottles of Chianti, one glass and a bunch of curious glares.

Shortly thereafter, the waiter delivered family style vegetables and a plate with my dinner looking at me. Well, with one eye anyway. It was a first for me. I had fish or seafood every Friday night and this was the first time it had ever looked back at me.

I guess that way you never dine alone.

Meal or Snack?

My personal favorite - Food!

I only remember that "california roll" was the sushi item at the Marriott concierge buffet.

In other words, it isn't something I'd order but was a perfect accompaniment to a glass of wine and brief break before heading out for dinner.

What can be wrong about bite sized morsels?

In case you didn't recognize it - it's another fun challenge from Karin Jurick and the Different Strokes from Different Folks blog.

Hot and Cold

It was a big day for organizing - cleaned and loaded my little palettes and kept watching the weather.
It was an adventure movie. Snow then sun. Hail, rain and sun. The illusion of warmth was there but the reality was pretty darn cool.










I'm just hoping these flowers will soon be blooming. That reality is just blades of green - no buds.

Old and Unappreciated

Antique Fruit Jar Opener/Wrench


I'm drawn to old and rusted things. Familiar and well used old tools.





Pink Lady





Chipped old enameled cups...






Crank Calls






...and things outdated and replaced.

a page from my watercolor sketchbook

I love iris and white flowers in particular. The ones that grow in my yard (make note I didn't say garden) are many colors but none of them are just white.

This page in my sketchbook was done based on a photo shared by Mary Lewis Williamson.
Thanks, Mary!