Photos taken by Ruth at Round HillThanks, Ruth!
The Round Hill Mixed Media Painting Retreat was wonderful. Being with the artist friends is always such a special blessing. We had a fun and productive four days together.
Attending were Melita (it's through her that we have the opportunity to go to Round Hill), Kay (who did all the shopping and organizing), Ruth, Dee, Justine, Lois, and me. Hank and Tom opened the place up, got the generator, the gas stoves and waterheaters working for us and then came back afterwards and shut it down. Propane and diesel were delivered while we were there, and another friend came up to make sure we got the oven pilot light going, While the men were there the gas hadn't gotten to flowing through the lines yet. So Lois got down on the floor later and got it lit. We were afraid we'd have to cook over a campfire or something.
We all worked very hard. I'm not sure how many pieces the others got done - lots - but I finished two older paintings, got a new small pastel scene of aspens done, worked on one of my commissions and got it nearly finished, and started a large oil painting of a pack trip in the high country. It's probably half done. Several of the artists like to paint outdoors - plein aire - and they did lots of that. I worked inside this time. I'll photograph the new paintings and show you later.
We had our usual gourmet meals, and way too much of it. We all tried our best to get it all eaten and not have to take any home, but it was not possible. Everyone took turns preparing a meal. I took fresh strawberry glaze pies and a big spinach dip in a bread bowl, and the four dozen muffins, two kinds. Everyone brings food to add to the larder.
After painting hours, they played Farkle. Don't know if you ever have, but its fun.
The weather was mostly cool but nice. We had a front go through the first night when the wind really roared through the cabin eaves and trees. A couple little sprinkles of rain was all we ever got, clouds and sunshine came and went daily.
The wildlife is fairly tame. We saw quite a few deer - there were four bucks together in the pictures today - one was big, lots of birds, antelope on the way coming and going, a treat of seeing a weasel, and squirrels who were bombarding the ground with pine cones the large reports sounding through the quiet. Funny that the largest buck deer was already gray and the smaller three were still in the brown summer coats.
Round Hill is a private lodge. Melita's neighbors own it as a place for their family and friends to come and vacation, hunt and fish, and they just invite us to use it nearly every year. We figured we have been coming to Round Hill for ten years now. Very special thanks to them for such a wonderful opportunity. We made them a small book of original art, two pages done by each artist and bound into a book form.
I got back home about 3 p.m. yesterday afternoon. I paid attention to about how far it is from home - around 90 miles and two hours straight driving - it's across the Green River Valley over in the Wyoming Range to the west, and very remote.
Joe and the dogs seem to have done fine without me. I've already got the laundry done up and put away this morning and a big chunk of the email taken care of. I need to make us some appointments - Joe needs his teeth cleaned and an eye appointment in Rock Springs, and I need a haircut. Guess I better check on when the TV repairmen are coming, and call the man who said he would come to tune up my computer and get the scanner going. Didn't get the photos from the weekend downloaded yet so will do that and post a few in the next week or so. Today's photos were taken by Ruth when we were out photographing the four buck deer.
I finished the book "Pushing My Shadow" about a lady who spent WW II in the near east and Europe, trekking and teaching at schools. Also "Teton Tales" by Paul Petzolt - interesting about the early climing history. Now I'm in to "The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle. It's very good and I wish I had read it 40 years ago, and 30 and 20 and 10.
Boy what a wonderful day out this morning. I'm sorry to think the summer is nearly over. Maybe I can paint today. Tomorrow is chemo day again. I'll meet the shuttle in Pinedale. My friend Judi left yesterday on her winter's sojourn to Houston. Hope she and Vicky have a good and safe trip.
Sheral and Dick are coming over this afternoon. They just got back from Denver.
