So What Have You Been Doing For Fun?

It has been quite a while since my last post and we have been busy. Already this year we have spent time on Mackinac Island. My dear husband bought me a new bike ,on the island for mothers day. I love it! It is called a Biria, very unique design that reminds me a lot of the bike I had when I was a girl. We were having so much fun riding around on the island I did not take any pictures-go figure.
Weather the last few weeks has been strange. Lots of 50 degree days with buckets of rain. Finally, we got some warm weather and sun. With it came a ton of work around our house. Last fall we had an issue with one of the walls of our home and basically I had more bulldozers on my lawn than on the road. Bottom line-I lost most of my lawn and flower garden-uh!!! Three weeks ago we guilted our two grown children into helping us and we stripped off the old lawn/weeds and laid down new sod on about half the lawn. My back has been killing me ever since. Hopefully, in the next week or so we will have the job done. I can't wait.

In between all the yard work we spent a day in Elk Rapids and I painted for my gallery there, Twisted Fish. It was their Art Beat gallery hopping day. The weather was wonderful and I met many wonderful people. I always enjoy talking the Bob and "Charlie", the owners who have become friends over the years.

I will be camping this coming weekend in Mackinaw City and painting on the island at Victorian Summer Gallery ,Saturday and Sunday, as part of the Lilac Festival Celebration. I am looking forward to seeing the many friends I have made on the island as well as meeting new friends. The kids will get watering duty back home! I will be delivering Rain On Main, one of my latest pieces of Main Street, taken from a photo of a very rainy fall day. I was inspired to paint this scene because of the reflections on the pavement. I hope you enjoy it as well.

Till next time,

Gail

Time Is Flying!

Hi all!
I just can't believe it has been so long since I updated my blog. Forgive me. We have been on the run like many of you. Had a wonderful time on Mackinac Island for a couple of days and have also been to Elk Rapids and Sugatuck, Michigan. We are currently camping a few miles from our home. We have been here for two weeks almost a necessity to get a decent campsite. In the two weeks here, we have dodging severe thunderstorms and tornadoes. I LOVE thunder storms, but not in a motorhome! Unfortunately, last week one man was killed in a campground not far from here after his motorhome was thrown into a tree, I believe. One night while sitting here, the tornado siren went off, the wind rocked the motorhome and the power went out. I looked at my husband and said "get me out of here!!!!" Unfortunately, we only had our little ranger pickup truck with us. He threw our two golden retrievers in the front seat with us (it only seats two) and struggled to drive home as our dog kept on throwing the truck out of gear by running into the stick shift. It seems funny now, but at the time quite scary.

I have been working on several pieces, but wanted to share this one with you. It is called Blessing of the Animals. This is a ceremony that takes place once a year on Mackinac Island during Lilac Festival. I couldn't resist painting these two darling girls having their dog blessed by the minister. Notice he wears gloves. He also blessed turtles and horses.

This weekend we are having our kids and their boyfriends/girlfriends out for a cookout and fireworks show put on by the campground. Hope the weather cooperates.
Happy 4th of July to everyone and stay safe.
Till next time,