Busy few weeks

I have a lot to talk about this time because the last few weeks have been filled with highs and lows. The first high was our wonderful vacation to Vieques, Puerto Rico! This was our second vacation on the island, and I love it even more! The beaches are sooo beautiful and not crowded at all. We liked it so much last year, we asked our kids to go this year so we could make some wonderful memories!! We stayed at a beautiful estate called El Cerro, which has 3 houses and 30 acres. With our family and friends we had 14 people, which fit very comfortably on the property!

                                             The main house! Looking up from the pool.
The views from this heaven on earth are breathtaking in every direction! We spent days at the beach and then some time at the pool or going out for music and dancing or playing cards. I hope everyone enjoyed it as much as I did!!

Besides the beautiful creatures in the ocean, there are lots of free roaming horses on land and quite a few stray dogs. They do have some humane associations trying to help out the horses and dogs and cats.

All too soon, vacation was over and it was time to say goodbye which is always hard. Our kids returned to their homes on opposite coasts and we returned home to PA. Before we left I was having a hard time deciding what to do with my 16 1/2 year old Jack Russell , Ringo. He has been in failing health and completely blind and almost deaf. I wasn't sure he would last the week of vacation, but he did! I was happy to see him up and around and wanting his dinner and breakfast as usual. He also had a skin problem on his head that made it ooze and scab and nothing we had tried would stop its spread. He ate all his food still, but was nothing but skin and bones! I  had been cleaning up accidents in the house frequently for the last year but then he started to lose control of his urine and would drip on himself. So sadly I made a vet appointment knowing he would probably not come home alive. It is so hard to know if you have picked the right time, to save suffering but extend life as long as possible. But sadly with the vets advice we lovingly said goodbye to Ringo. He was a good little dog and will be greatly missed.

Sweet Ringo

Two days after losing Ringo , it was time for the opening reception of the paper art 2 show at Campbell Pottery. I was thankful for the distraction, and looking forward to seeing the creative artwork using paper. I was amazed by all the ways artists made beautiful art using paper. I think everyone should go and check it out. I was also thrilled to discover that my elephant piece was sold! I had several people come up to me and comment on the piece which was just wonderful!

So my life the last few weeks has been a rollercoaster of happy and sad, I guess a true example of life in general! Until next time......

 

Paper art show at Campbell Pottery

 Chief Paper feather

" A tear for my Brethren"

As promised, here are my two entries into Campbell Pottery's Paper Art Show 2!  The first one is a gourd mask. Usually I make these  with real feathers, beads etc. but in keeping with the theme, I made all the decorations out of paper. The elephant is made on several sheets of watercolor paper that is carved and woodburned! A small sea glass teardrop is added . It has been varnished so it can be displayed free of glass ,so the texture is easier to see.

I have been busy working on gourds for the gourd show in Texas, and I am making slow progress. Still busy with the horse gourd but on the final stages now.

Here is my little studio buried behind one of the huge snowpiles we accumulated this winter! I am happy to say our weather seems to have moderated a bit and the piles are starting to melt! Happy to see them go!! I even saw a robin and a red winged blackbird yesterday!!! Can Spring be far off???