Pastimes

View of Portage Bay

2012-01-28T16:25:00.000-08:00

Jeff and I volunteer with the Puget Sound Blood Center. He registers and I give juice and cookies to fine donors. One of the rewards is that it brings me to many surprising places in Seattle. This week I found a lovely view of Portage Bay from the Vista Cafe in the new Foege Building - warm, dry and coffee too. This building is named after William H. Foege, who was instrumental in eradicating small pox. I felt a little guilty sketching peacefully while all around me, really smart people were making progress in genome research.

Inishmore, Aran Islands

2012-01-21T14:59:00.000-08:00

Winter has kept me inside, thinking of our vacation to Ireland last fall. It was cold and blustery then but nothing like today. This was inspired by one of the many, many pictures we took.

Chilly, Chillier, Chilliest

2012-01-13T13:46:00.000-08:00

By the time I finished this quickie sketch, my hands were frozen and Sophie was dancing with eagerness to go. Maybe it was the dampness or maybe the local predictions of snow showers to come.

Greenlake Color

2012-01-06T13:51:00.000-08:00

I found a wonderful antidote to Seattle gray at Greenlake this morning. The woody brush surrounding the lake has become quite colorful.

Little House in Ballard

2011-12-31T22:17:00.000-08:00

My last post of 2011 - for Edith.

Do you know the story of Edith Macefield? She owned this little house in Ballard for 40+ years when she was offered a million dollars for the plot. Edith said, "I don't want to move. I don't need the money. Money doesn't mean anything." How strong she was. The world built around Edith and sadly she died shortly after all the construction. Edith left the house to one of the construction workers who had befriended her. It sits looking lonely and small amid the stores and fitness centers but I suspect it has an interesting future.

We had a bit of sun today.

2011-12-16T10:34:00.000-08:00

Christmas trees add so much to the decor.

If only they'd last all year.

This is the first year we have decorated without the kids' ornaments. (Not counting the aluminum Ninja Star on the top) It feels a little bereft without Surfin' Santa or Care Bears but there is a nice glow from my favorite blown glass balls.

Olympic View

2011-11-22T11:24:00.001-08:00

This is a bit of a cheat since it was painted last year. But on these dreary rainy November days, it's helpful to remember the sun comes even on dark, short days.

Simply Fall

2011-11-17T03:33:00.001-08:00

I am so happy that I did not miss fall in Seattle. It lasted and lasted until just this week the rains came.

Lake Washington Ship Canal. Teeny tiny palette.

Practice

2011-11-14T09:07:00.000-08:00

My sister Patty and I spent an overnight at her cabin last summer. We made a paint-in for ourselves, each practicing skills on our own. It was such a pleasure to relax and concentrate uninterrupted.

My intention was to practice shadows. These are images from our travels. I took great liberties with the colors.

Epoisses, France

Flavigny, France

Random picture from the southwest

Loving Fall

2011-11-09T18:05:00.000-08:00

I've been out and about traveling for family and pleasure. It's good to be home and seeing Seattle shine in its fall glory. While spending a quiet morning at Starbucks on Phinney Ridge, I was delighted to find that I had my little tiny watercolors and notebook with me. Thanks to friend Susan for helping me always be prepared.

Across the Pond

2011-10-22T11:22:00.000-07:00

We just returned from our daughter's wedding in London and a side trip to France. The wedding was wonderful - light and joyous and we left feeling that we are the luckiest of parents.

We followed the wedding with a trip to France, starting with several weeks in Corsica. Although the roads are really difficult, there are many, many sketching possibilities. Here was one of my favorites. We drove into the city of Bastia, near the northern finger tip of Corsica. It felt dense and overwhelming until we happened on this square. Although there was an underground parking lot, we found a perfect parking spot thanks to the help of a friendly boulangerie owner, flagging down business. The square was startlingly peaceful. Early morning dappled light, a fountain at one end, businesses setting up for the day, a few people wandering around. It was the respite travelers long to find.

To London!

2011-09-06T14:33:00.000-07:00

Soon, we will go to our daughter's wedding in Hampstead. How different it is for us to have our daughter move to England than for our great grandparents to have a child leave for America. God bless technology. And God bless the happy couple!

Everybody needs a Book Group

2011-08-29T21:01:00.000-07:00

Everybody needs a Book Group like this. I just spent the most restful weekend at the cabin of friend's parents. The weather was perfect, the food amazing and the company great fun. Lucky us.

The Village Haberdashery

2011-08-16T16:36:00.000-07:00

When our daughter Annie was about thirteen, I made her take sewing lessons. There was plenty of grumbling then but in a satisfying turn of events, she has developed a true love of fabric and sewing. In a thoroughly modern way, Annie has begun a blog to share her progress on various projects. It is full of appealing pictures and practical tips. Her plan is to open an online shop named The Village Haberdashery. Take a peek:

http://thevillagehaberdashery.co.uk/blog/

Gray water, gray day

2011-08-12T18:14:00.000-07:00

I love to find hidden little parks in Seattle. This one is just below the University of Washington on Portage Bay. If you are a true Husky, you may remember this as the location of the Showboat Theater until 1994.

A Gentle Lake View

2011-08-09T18:37:00.000-07:00

Another summer outing brought me to Oregon on a road trip with my sister Patty and friend Kasey. Here the weather was perfect and while we saw a clear view of Mt. Hood and a blue sky beach, my favorite was this quick sketch of the shore of Lake Trillium.

Priest Lake, Idaho

2011-08-08T22:21:00.000-07:00

Torrential rains followed us from Ireland to Priest Lake this July. With little to do or see from the dry comfort of our tent, I borrowed this idea from friend Susan, and created a souvenir for Jeff's cousins. It would have perhaps been perkier had the air been less damp!

Summer Highlights

2011-08-07T20:20:00.000-07:00

This has been an eventful summer and I have become too busy to keep up. So I am sharing a few lovely highlights.

This is a sketch of MNAC, Museu Nacional D'Art Catalunya. My husband and I were able to visit this and other sites on a quick stopover in Barcelona. What an elegant city!

2011-07-08T22:20:00.000-07:00

Jeff and I had a new travel experience this spring. We took a transAtlantic cruise from Florida to Barcelona. We are new cruiser fans - enchanted by the air, water and the many fun activities.

This is a sketch of South Beach before we left from Fort Lauderdale. Lovely place.

Cold Spring

2011-04-20T18:34:00.000-07:00

Here is my sketch of the trees on U.W. campus in 2010.

I think this unreasonably cold spring is preserving the flowers. That's one, not so small, compensation for needing a coat and scarf when I go out to sketch.

And here, 2011.

And Yet Another School

2011-03-29T22:40:00.000-07:00

Waiting for spring, I sketch from my car. This is just one corner of B.F.Day where son Michael went to school. It is the oldest, continuously used public school in Seattle.

Old School

2011-03-03T16:41:00.000-08:00

This old Seattle school is alive and well as an active community center. Inside, it had the creak and smell of old wood.

Late snow

2011-02-23T07:51:00.000-08:00

Snow is predicted today. It's late to have snow in Seattle. It won't stay long but it will be wet and beautiful. It's been hitting the mountains for the last few days.

Gung Hay Fat Choy!

2011-02-18T22:12:00.000-08:00

A few days in Vegas and a chance to see a festive Chinese New Year display at the Bellagio

Spring Visitors

2011-02-10T15:55:00.000-08:00

For many years, a pair of ducks have arrived in our neighborhood in February. The woman across the street is their special friend and puts out water and grain. She even guards them when they want to walk across the street. I look forward to them coming soon.

Puerto Vallarta Market

2011-01-30T17:01:00.000-08:00

A year ago we were in Mexico. What a world away.

A Bit of Britain - Jervaulx Abbey

2011-01-23T21:18:00.000-08:00

I am watching the series Pillars of the Earth, based on the book by Ken Follett about the building of cathedrals and abbeys in medieval times. In 2009, when we were visiting friends David and Linda in North Yorkshire, David gave us a beautiful tour of the Yorkshire Dales. In kindness to me, he reached into the boot, retrieved a lawn chair and insisted that I be given time to sketch at his favorite abbey. In spite of the destruction caused by religious animosity and time, there is a great sense of peace here.

Jervaulx Abbey was built in 1156 as a Cistercian Monastery. It was dismantled in the 16th century when it was declared forfeit to the crown. The lead was stripped from its roof and the church was blown up with gun powder. Artifacts can be found from Aysgarth to Bedale.

Thinking of warmer climates.

2011-01-14T19:15:00.000-08:00

How can it be, that while we experience these gray and blustery days, someone, somewhere south is sharing a beach with little birds?

Anna Marie Island, Florida

New Year's Morning

2011-01-02T11:02:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure if it's a good thing or a bad to start the new year with a breakfast out. Here's our view as we lingered over coffee and the paper. The bar in the sketch, "Nine Million in Unmarked Bills" was probably still recovering from the night before.

My favorite Fremont Breakfast

2010-12-27T19:12:00.000-08:00

Silence-Heart-Nest

Merry Christmas to All!

2010-12-22T15:02:00.000-08:00

A surprisingly mild first day of winter.

Thanksgiving Flowers

2010-12-20T22:02:00.000-08:00

And Now for Something Completely Different

2010-12-17T19:53:00.000-08:00

Woodland Park is our dog's favorite place to run.

We've returned to Seattle and already experienced snow, wind, and the "pineapple express" accompanied by a leaking basement. Today, however, was a perfect winter day in Seattle.

If we ever move away from the Pacific Northwest, it would be this view of water and mountains that I would miss the most.

Golden Gardens Park

Last day in San Telmo, Buenos Aires.

2010-11-09T16:42:00.000-08:00

Our last day in Buenos Aires was hot and humid! We thought we had timed our trip very well. Since our apartment became very warm, I spent the afternoon at a sidewalk table of a nearby cafe taking stock of our little San Telmo neighborhood. Seen through rose colored glasses, it could be perfect.

Support for the President

2010-10-31T09:15:00.000-07:00

There is a wall of flowers and messages since Nestor Kirchner's death. And support for his wife, the current president. "Strength Cristina. Today, more than ever." Mini Sophie is being politically involved.

The memorial happened the day we flew back from Iguazu Falls. The major highways were shut down and we couldn't get into the city from the airport for hours. "Relax," they said in Castillano," have some coffee."

Dinner with new friends in Buenos Aires

2010-10-31T08:52:00.000-07:00

We learned of the closed door restaurant movement and Casa SaltShaker from a few friends and guidebooks. We were able to make reservations on the internet. For a reasonable price, Dan Perlman from N.Y. and his Peruvian partner, Henry Tapia, invite a group into their home, a moderate sized, one bedroom duplex with a garden in Recoleta, for an excellent dinner and the random but fun mix of nine others. On the night we went, there were two guests from Madrid, three locals celebrating a birthday, a woman from Toronto, a couple from the Washington State and us.We enjoyed the new company and animated chatter in English and a bit of Spanish. It was a beautiful travel experience of camaraderie and great food. http://www.casasaltshaker.com/indexen.htm

Argentina, always something going on.

2010-10-29T21:58:00.000-07:00

Buenos Aires is a modern, cosmopolitan, stimulating city. But maybe a bit too exciting. Here's what has happened in the two and a half weeks we have been here.

1. 60,000 people (according to a left leaning news show) peacefully marched down the enormous Avenue 9 de Julio, protesting the police handling of the murder of a young dissident.

2. A two day garbage strike left mounds of garbage on the street just outside our door.

3. The country virtually shut down when the national census required everyone to stay home for 12 hours on a Thursday so they could be counted.

4. The beloved but controversial ex president Nestor Kirchner, died suddenly and the country was in three day mourning. On Friday, we were en route from Iguazu' Falls and were trapped at the airport for several hours because the roads into the city were closed for the memorial.

Argentina's economy is expected to increase by 8% this year and 5% in 2011. But a local told us that the price of beef doubled this past year. It's an interesting country.

Amazing Iguazu' Falls, AR

2010-10-29T21:23:00.000-07:00

Jeff and I just returned from a side trip from Buenos Aires to Iguazu' Falls National Park on the border of Argentina, Brazil and near Paraguay. The falls. which are larger than Niagra, are located in the remains of a protected jungle and are absolutely awesome. It is possible to view the falls from above and below by walking on pristine trails in such a way that you feel you can see the end of the earth where they tumble into the abyss. The largest is even named "Devil's Throat". This sketch, which doesn't begin to capture their enormity, is of a pair of falls named "Dos Hombres".

Casa Magica, Buenes Aires

2010-10-20T04:56:00.000-07:00

Trying to experience travel in South America, we have rented an apartment in San Telmo, Buenos Aires for a month.

San Telmo is an old section of the city, originally inhabited by the very rich in their decorative European style homes. The area was abandoned when yellow fever hit and was left to be divided into apartments or fall apart.. Today, it has a broad mix of people, some who are slowly restoring the homes. The apartment we are staying in is one of four in a three story building on a busy street. We like the wonderful light and old world charm. The neighborhood is a mixed blessing.

Buenos Aires' Markets

2010-10-18T03:28:00.000-07:00

Palermo Market

Insta-friends! While I was sketching in San Telmo, a Brazilian family stopped to chat and share tips.

Weekend markets are great entertainment. We visited the Palermo neighborhood, which has a nice market but we live in the San Telmo neighborhood, which has the very best.

San Telmo Market is the largest and the quirkiest. Here, tango is king.

Buenos Aires

2010-10-17T14:12:00.000-07:00

Jeff and I are having the rare and wonderful experience of having spring twice in one year. Here in Buenos Aires, the cherry trees are blooming pink and bougainvillea is just beginning to show. We are here for a month, staying in an apartment in the San Telmo area. This city is so big, it may take us a month to find our way around.
Today, we experienced our second Sunday Market in San Telmo. It is Mothers' Day, and I think all 3 million residents came to this little barrio.

Buenos Aires

2010-10-16T05:04:00.000-07:00

Grand Cafe Tortoni, the oldest cafe in Buenos Aires. Splendid in an old European kind of way.

Sketches from our first few days in Buenos Aires.

The buildings near the famous Plaza de Maya are each historic.

Everyone visits this cemetery to see the monument to Eva Peron. I thought this one to Liliana was more sentimental.

Tea for two

2010-09-29T11:23:00.000-07:00

A gift from our son, Michael. I love the color and the ambiance of the set. I am an avid coffee drinker but even the suggestion of tea makes me relax.

Dream House View

2010-09-24T17:14:00.000-07:00

I love peek-a-boo views of houses and roof lines. This dream house is probably a former officer's home perched high on the bluff above Smith's Cove Park by Elliot Bay Marina. It has expansive views of downtown, the Space Needle, Mt. Rainier and the beautiful bay. Ahh. Maybe in another life.

The Mystery of Silver Spoons

2010-09-18T20:15:00.000-07:00

The year our house turned 100, we decided to celebrate by finally remodeling the basement. When my husband took a powerful shop vac to the area between the joists, out popped a delightful, hidden package of silver spoons. I love to imagine the story behind them.

Sweet Sophie, Super Dog

2010-09-05T17:27:00.000-07:00

This is Sophie, a very game model for my sketching. I am experimenting with different paper and pen

Lake Wooten, Washington State

2010-08-30T17:07:00.000-07:00

I've just returned from a lovely weekend of books and leisure with my Book Group friends. We stayed in a cozy and comfortable cabin on Lake Wooten near Belfair. The weather was best early in the morning when the fog lifted off the lake.

Good Shepherd Center, Seattle

2010-08-17T10:14:00.000-07:00

I have many good memories of teaching in this lovely building, surrounded by lush, enthusiastic gardens. On this day, I sketched with Susan. We perched in the parking lot for this view. Even better, is being on the inside looking out.

Treasure every day.

2010-08-05T20:37:00.001-07:00

I was touched to see this memorial sitting at the edge of the Lake Washington Ship Canal just where the Burke Gilman Trail meets the Salmon Bay Sand and Gravel Company. A reminder to appreciate every day. I found this online from "The Officer Down Memorial Page Remembers . . ."

Police Officer Jackson Vernon (Jack) Lone
Seattle Police Department

End of Watch: Wednesday, March 16, 2005

Age: 39
Tour of Duty: 18 years
Badge Number: 5119

Cause of Death: Drowned
Date of Incident: Wednesday, March 16, 2005

Officer Jackson Lone drowned when he fell as he attempted to secure a drifting tugboat.

Officer Lone's partner immediately dove in and located him. CPR was performed, rescue units transported him to Harborview Medical Center where he was pronounced dead a short time later.

Officer Jackson Lone was an 18 year veteran of the department and had been assigned to the harbor patrol unit for 5 years. His wife and 18-month-old son survive him.

1st International Urban Sketchers Symposium

2010-08-03T09:48:00.000-07:00

I just got back from the 1st Urban Sketchers International Symposium. It was exciting, intense, tiring and very inspiring. Many talented people who were thrilled to be with so many others who also understand the joy of sketching. When we looked at the work displayed on the last day, there was that delightful recognition that we all had been in similar settings but expressed them in so many different ways.

I am grateful to Gabi Campanario for organizing it all and the amazing instructors and correspondents, some of whom came many, many miles to be there.

We sketched a lot! Portland was a perfect setting with endless possibilities.

This was sketched in China Town where I had a line drawing session with Lapin.

Frank Ching led a session on Urban Architecture and emphasized using the foreground.

Fellow Seattle sketcher Susan Miller and
I took an unscheduled break at the Lu San
Chinese Gardens. We could have spent
a day there.

I felt really lucky to be at the Symposium and surrounded by amazing, enthusiastic people.

2010 July, Seattle Waterfront

2010-07-27T11:06:00.000-07:00

A pretty day at the waterfront with Urban Sketchers. Very lively and colorful. It reminded me how much I enjoy our best summer days.

Since I've started sketching, I've been interested in structures like the one in my view. Does it have something to do with the concerts there? Many boats are docked in that marina. I chose the one that seemed to be smiling.

2010, Seattle backyard

2010-07-08T23:05:00.001-07:00

After weeks of boring gray weather, Seattle is enjoying bright hot days. And the result is green, green, green.

2010 June, London.

2010-06-26T15:37:00.001-07:00

2010 June, London. , originally uploaded by PeggyJG.

We finished our 2010 Europe trip staying at Annie and Ed's flat in London. It was a perfect way to transition back to reality. We were able to relax, eat very well and watch the World Cup. Perfect.

Rendezvous in Paris

2010-06-08T11:32:00.000-07:00

One very nice thing about being in Urban Sketchers is receiving comments from around the world. I was on my way to Paris when I received a comment on the picture I painted of sailboats in Greece. I contacted the sender, Marie Christine, and asked her if she would like to meet and sketch together. We met at a metro stop and walked to a nearby pretty square. Marie Christine is a talented, avid sketcher.We spent several hours talking, sharing our sketchbooks and creating a new international friendship. Life is good.

Everybody's a Critic - Peloponnese

2010-05-28T11:25:00.000-07:00

Oh the hardships we endure to sketch. I had a few quiet moments while visiting Monastery Podromos in the mountains of the Peloponnese. This overly friendly guy kept his head right next to mine the whole time. I think he liked the smell of the paints.

Koroni, Greece - Safe Harbor

2010-05-27T10:21:00.000-07:00

A few days ago, a storm came up quickly, lightening, thunder, wind. Jeff and I were sitting in a restaurant on the water, protected by plastic windows. Looking out way into the distance, we were able to watch beautiful sailboats rushing into the little bay, sails full and dark against the horizon.They came very fast and grew from tiny to full size. It was very exciting and I had to watch them until they arrived safely. The next morning I had a perfect drawing opportunity as they all slept in quite late.

Three by the Sea

2010-05-09T06:59:00.000-07:00

Jeff and I have finished traveling three weeks in Sicily. I heartily recommend it for its beauty, friendly people, fabulous food. Whenever we travel, I am excited to see a new body of water and I love how the names roll off the tongue. Here are three sea sketches. I can't capture the wonderful blues - maybe my dry paints aren't rich enough - I hope I captured the peace. The first is a surprising Mediterranean view from an inexpensive hotel, the second, a view of E'rice, an ancient fortress hill town on the Tyrranean Sea, the third, just a random beach on the Gulf of Palermo. All viewed from Sicily.

Next stop, Greece!

2010 Syracuse, Italy, Temple of Apollo

2010-04-20T11:10:00.000-07:00

The best part of the Temple of Apollo in Syracuse is that it is in the center of a major square where life continues to swirl around. The pillars are the most original, other parts having been modified by whatever power was current. In the sun, the pillars glow with soft golden light.

Hola Mexico! 2010

2010-03-02T10:18:00.000-08:00

In January and February, my husband Jeff and I, spent 4 weeks exploring Mexico and learning just what a large and varied country it really is. We traveled on the ETN buses - comfortable, affordable and incredibly convenient. We started in Mexico City, with its amazing parks and the Anthropological Museum.

We moved on to the colonial and indigenous cities of Pátzcuaro and Morelia. I was dazzled by the local crafts there. We saw Querétaro in the midst of a huge rainstorm and mixed with the ex-pats in San Miguel de Allende.

Our favorite city for color and charm was Guanajuato.

We ended with a relaxing week among the tourists in beautiful Puerto Vallarta.

Sketching was wonderful. It always gives me insight but on this trip, it helped me make friends. I almost always had a Mexican companion, adult or child, who would sit near me either quietly watching or chatting. It provided my best moments of contact with local people.

2010 Jan.1 Chrysler Air Raid Siren

2010-01-02T18:53:00.001-08:00

If you are old enough, you remember scurrying under your desk to practice "duck and cover" in case of a nuclear attack. This siren is located in Seattle at N. 67th and Phinney Ave. N. where it is maintained in tiny park by the Phinney Ridge Association. More interesting information at http://www.conradchavez.com/World/PacificNW/Seattle-Cold-War-air-raid/1755596_3Etpp

Ballard Library 12-17-09

2009-12-20T09:14:00.000-08:00

It gets dark early in December in Seattle. I found this scene at the public library in Ballard at 4:30 p.m. Ballard has Nordic heritage and the "new" library has a ship's theme. Beautiful beams in the ceiling, very tall windows and whimsically and environmentally sound, there is grass growing on the roof.

Elliot Bay Books.

2009-12-13T17:50:00.000-08:00

A wonderful collection of children's books with many re-alouds.

Elliot Bay Books

2009-12-13T17:46:00.000-08:00

A crowded day in a festive Christmas setting. Many people talking about what a great bookstore this is and about the upcoming move to Capital Hill.

2009 Volunteer Park watertower Celebrating the 25th International Sketch Crawl at Volunteer Park

2009-11-22T08:04:00.000-08:00

2009 Volunteer Park Conservatory

2009-11-21T18:11:00.000-08:00

2009 Volunteer Park Conservatory

2009-11-21T18:09:00.000-08:00

2009-10-23T15:22:00.000-07:00

This is the view from tiny park next to Ivars on Lake Union.

2009-10-21T11:29:00.000-07:00

Seattle Center Oct. 18,2009
This was a cold, fall day one of my first to sketch with Seattle Urban Sketchers. This is the view of the Center House from across the mural amphitheater lawn. The tree on the right stole the show while the trees on the left were completely bare.