Popping back to Charlotte, North Carolina

Fresh on the heels of a 22 hour flight, I POPPED back to Charlotte,  excited to  take a workshop with  Lost Aussie on the Loose, Marie Otero. Marie is a warm, soft spoken, friendly, talented artist, photographer and photoshop guru.  Be sure and check out her website to see some GORGEOUS photography, her online classes, workshops and digital artwork.  

It felt a bit like a time warp returning to the US where everything seems sooooo easy: we write and speak English, can count change all by ourself and not always be asking for directions. The time had come to change cultural perspectives and rethink photography choices.
As a side note: I returned to a kaleidoscope of color after all of the soothing greens in Asia; so I just had to share this beautiful autumn photo of a tree in our front yard.

 Fine Art Creative Black and White Photography Workshop was a two day, one evening class held in Charlotte. Mornings were devoted to exploring the wealth of photographic possibilities, in the city then returning to a hotel conference room where we learned various ways to convert our color photos to black and white.  

Marie worked her way between  "students" helping us get correct camera settings, points of view to consider and sundry tips just right to maximize our photographs.  

I HAVE FALLEN IN LOVE WITH CHARLOTTE 
through the lens of my camera.

I have been delighted to live in the Charlotte area these past three years, but with this workshop my eyes were re-opened to its vibrant, elegant, sophisticated architecture; the cohesiveness of the city by the planning gurus; the varied, interesting, and stellar monuments and sculptural pieces; quiet streams, ponds, and waterfalls softened by the fall of autumn leaves; green metal benches lined up along roads beckoning  the walker to sit awhile and  LOOK and SEE what was before them. Ah, so much to see and take in...and a lens truly clarifies just that.

A moment of tranquility in a park.

Queen Charlotte of 4th Street.  I chatted with a few men who were sunning in the warmth of the sun on a green metal bench. This kind soul rescued his dog when it was tossed out of a car on that street in front of him.  He nursed him back to health.  I so appreciated him allowing me to take their photo.  
Capturing the "humanity" in others is the ultimate joy for me.

 To end this little photo-log, I loved this photograph I am calling "reflection upon reflection"...love the  touch of color.

I will share more views of Charlotte...perhaps you will fall in love with the Queen's City, as I have, just remember to bring your camera. 

The world looks different through a camera's lens.

Also posting to another wonderful photographer, Kim Klassen's, Friday Finds.

Through a Child's Eyes

Talk terrific fun, we all jumped in the car and headed for the newly renovated  Discovery Museum. This is the Kingdom of Play: Invention, Exploration and Imagination.

All shoes were created from recycled paper!

Paint on My Hands, Face, Clothes......

After way too many months of ignoring my oils, brushes and canvases I have started PAINTING. Yippee!! I could present a gazillion excuses, but it mostly boils down to loss of COURAGE. It actually takes a bit of BRAVERY to create...to create anything, from sculpting a fairy, writing a novel, polishing up one's musical talents. I felt like I was wandering in the LAND OF OZ with no Golden Brick Road to follow. You QUESTION: have my skills slipped away. You WONDER: if the MUSE has left to roost with someone else. You PONDER: if you really WANT to CREATE You question and question, then the worst happens PROCRASTINATION.  Yes, there was a selling and buying of homes, a major move. Yes, my husband had many health problems and surgeries. Yes, Yes, Yes....so many reasons turned to FUTILE, USELESS EXCUSES. But also I had lost FAITH in MYSELF and DIRECTION.

Before I moved to North Carolina, a dear friend,  Sharon Schwenk invited me to be a part of a painter's group,  SILVER BRUSH SOCIETY. This gathering of talented artists have been painting together for ten years.  One member had leave and they were looking for a replacement. It was their welcoming hand extended to me in Maryland. It was an opportunity to drop into an artist's group immediately. How many times have I written how warm and friendly I have found it to be in Charlotte?  These painters have been gracious, welcoming, friendly and very helpful.

I have now met the members as we prepared over 1500 invitations to the November annual benefit show for the Matthews Help Center. Last week five of us hung an art exhibit in the Bank of America Pavilion in Charlotte.  This opportunity is how I found the COURAGE and DESIRE to paint.

I am excited to share a few pieces with you today.  They are all small steps, small paintings but they have worked their magic and I am excited to once again be painting.

At first I couldn't decide what I wanted to paint. So I started small and went with a SUNFLOWER theme.....as it is my favorite flower and color.

Meet Sunny. She is absorbed in dog reverie, relaxing in the Sunflowers.

Oscar is plunked down on a Sunflower cushion.  Painting animals, other than the occasional cow is something new for me. And I have started a series of puppies.

Molly in the Meadow....I wonder if butter is yellow due to a diet of Buttercups and Sunflowers?

Sunflower Fields....just have to do a few Provence, France inspired paintings.

I end this little preview with a tiny painting, smaller than you see on your screen. Sunburst is 6x6 inches BIG!

Back and Forth, Forth and Back

My it seems a long time since writing, but in reality one  unbelievable  week plus a  few frantic days. I have missed sharing a few thoughts and photos with you.

Truth be told: we have been going

BACK and FORTH 

 FORTH and BACK,

UP and DOWN, 

DOWN and UP. 

Liken it to riding a TILT-A-WHIRL running on adrenalin. Selling a home and purchasing a home within a few short weeks is a test of endurance, patience, bouts of sorrow, sprouts of excitement,  quick wits, challenges and a liberal dose of GOOD LUCK. The good luck was in having the second person to walk through our home make an offer. It was sudden. It was quick. It was unexpected. And it caught us up in a maelstrom of emotions and activity.

The ink barely dry on our  buyer's contract,  we decided to zip on down to Charlotte, NC where we are moving. Hurry, hustle,throw some things in a Trader Joe's shopping bag: don't forget sunglasses, camera and computer, fill the tank, stock up on peanut M&M'S and gooey orange Circus Peanuts, then Ready- Set- Go!  We set off at dawn, poorly prepared, with out a clue as to what we were doing. Nine hours later,  found us in the WARMISH TO HOTTISH Charlotte with sweaters, heavy jeans, and for me the only shoes I had on my feet and NO extra socks in the Trader Joe bag!!  What is a GAL to do without a personal planner????

We arrived in North Carolina, the sun shining, the pollen count high, and blissfully unaware of how unprepared we were for the southern climate. We pulled into the North Carolina Tourist Bureau  (red brick and white wood--pure Southern architecture) stepped out of the car and into the SOUTHERN HUMIDITY that watery atmosphere that clings to one's skin, clothes and hair and enables all that luscious growth of Southern blossoms, vines, moss and a thousand hues of GREEN!

 

As though the sweet smell of blossoms wasn't enough, we looked UP!

And there shines a most magnificent azure umbrella dotted with clouds tinged in mauve and gray.

Pretend with me that you are lying on your back beneath a hundred year old tree... where do your childhood memories float off to? Want to go for a climb and stake a view of the world?

We were now in the land of Southern Hospitality, wisps of  Southern drawl,  new freshness and new adventures just ahead.

Previously I mentioned our good fortune to sell our home in a flagging economy, and a wonderful Seller Realtor, Astrid Ermanis who made it happen.The next bit of brilliant blessings was taking the suggestion to invite Joel Bennett to work with us in purchasing a new home in Charlotte

. 

Joel is a true blue Southern Gentleman by way of Maine!!!  He and his wife, Gwen gave us undivided attention, listened to our needs and wishes, then set out to find them.

If you every move to Charlotte be sure to call Joel and Gwen to represent you. You will not find more friendly and hard working people to help you find your dream home on a shoe string budget!

In TWO DAYS and one evening we found the perfect home for us. 

Now this is the amazing part of our tale. Joel sent us a website listing of homes near our daughter and her family. Scanning the home prices first on the website, I opened THIS VERY HOME!!! Next came viewing the Virtual Reality Tour, as the entrance photo popped up, suddenly I FELT US LIVING there, like we were on the other side of the door!!! It was an overwhelming feeling. Would have purchased unseen, the vibes were so strong.

For surety sake we toured  many homes and came back to this first home two more times. A delightful family own it and are ready to move to a larger home. I am sure we will become friends.

We will live one block from our grandchildren and the swimming pool they call their second home!

And there is a large, airy, periwinkle blue bonus room for my ART STUDIO!!

And more tidbits, Joel, Gwen and their four children live just down the street in an identical home! We will be neighbors.

We can hardly believe our good fortune.

To seal the deal we went to a tiny cobblestone BBQ diner to start our Southern affinity for all things BBQ'd a mere few blocks from our home!

There was even a friendly pig that escaped being cooked!

A Bluebird welcoming us to Charlotte,

 

 And when all that southern barbecue, pecan pie, banana-cookie pudding and all things fried start to mount the calories, in back of the BBQ diner is a produce stand.The South has an abundance of farmers' markets, many organically produce.

Give a hands up to OPRAH oops mean OKRA!!!

 

Adieu Dear Valentine

Roses are Red,

Violets are blue

Children are sweet

And love ART, too! Happy Valentines from the Boys and Girls Club

Two weeks before Valentines and all through the room, were the sounds of crinkling tissue and paper being clipped. Soft pastel was sketched on banners filled with hearts and hands. No one could resist the tactile softness of smearing pastel. Glue was applied by finger or brush. One cutie pie accidentally popped the lid off the Elmer's Glue and glue flooded down her new jeans and dripped into her "Lugg" boots. We nearly set off the fire alarm over that one!!!! One afternoon was devoted to creating valentines for loved ones and friends. They sure had a whole lot of friends, as fingers were flying creating little cards for giving. Some didn't forget a special card for a mommy or daddy.

The "teens" at the club put on a Valentine party for the "young ones" meaning those in elementary school.

Games, pizza, and staying an extra hour at the club.

Valentine Day was spent driving to North Carolina,

to visit Kayla, Luke, Hunter and Molly.

We haven't seen Luke since November. What a BIG boy he is!!! Personality, smiles and appetite galore!

His smile melts a grandparent's heart.

One doesn't walk very far holding Luke, sitting is much easier and safer.

We all think he will be crawling in March!

Miss Kayla welcomed us with adorable handmade Valentines all covered in candy hearts. Not a single candy heart was missing!

But in this photo, it would appear that she is getting away with something...hmm, maybe eating all those gorgeous blue and green "PEEPS."

Or perhaps it is Luke who is munching the PEEPS! He looks like he will keep his secret for awhile longer. Howard had some needed dental work done, spent one day driving around the Carolina countryside and playing with Kayla and Luke. Sharon was painting at a workshop, meeting more southern artists, and enjoying her Carolina artist friend, another Sharon. Sharon invited Sharon and a few other workshop attendees to her home for wine and "good old cold water," a tour of her home, studio and art and then dinner at a Thai restaurant. It was so much fun to go out with the painting ladies! Southern women are gracious, friendly and lovely to be around. The workshop was successful. Evenings were mostly spent at home with the children, tucking them in bed at night, reading and playing hide and seek. Grammy hid so well from Kayla, that when Kayla finally found her, and Grammy yelled "boo!" Kayla promptly shrieked and fell down on her bottom. We laughed a long time over that one. Our last day in Charlotte we drove to where Hunter has his dental practice, and ate at his favorite BBQ restaurant. Pretty good fare, especially tangy coleslaw on top of BBQ pork. Later in the evening we all went to see Madagascar at the dollar theater. Luke slept through the movie, along with Grammy, who was all tuckered out! Then the long drive home....to Havre de Grace taking with us sweet memories of a special Valentine week with Family.