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For Christmas, my kids gave me the gift of a trip, with the whole family, to Yosemite for Memorial Day Weekend. What a Treat! Yosemite (1890) is the 3rd oldest National park after Yellowstone(1872) and Sequoia(1890). Yosemite Valley is impossible to fully visualize in photos because of the sheer scale of the cliffs, waterfalls, and trees. We spent the first date hiking around the main valley, and on the second day, we hiked 3 miles to Mariposa Grove to see the sequoias, redwoods, and huge white and red pines. The geology of the park is characterized by granite and remnants of older rock. About 10 million years ago, the Sierra Nevada was uplifted and tilted, which increased the steepness of streams, forming deep, narrow canyons. Then about a million years ago glaciers moved downslope, cutting and sculpting the U-shape Yosemite Valley. The Giant Sequoias, living in 3 groves in the park, can live over 3,500 years while Whitebark Pine, Western Juniper, and Douglas-fir can live more than 1,000 years. It looks Pre-historic, truly a land of Giants! The National Park System of the United States is a gift to all of us.

Maddie may only be 7 but she is and always has been, Fearless. She is physically quite strong so good at sports. As her Grandmother, I have often been anxious for her physical safety while babysitting. You can count on her to climb higher, jump further, and ski faster than everyone else. She has an imagination, constantly testing her powers and their limits. Madeleine Rose, aka, Maddie, is also a flirt, and quite engaging with people of all ages. In other words, she has the personality of a Redhead. I hope I live long enough to see what she will do with her "One Wild and Precious Life."

If you would like a portrait or little oil sketch of your loved ones, please feel free to contact me here. For more information and prices go to my Website under PORTRAITS.

While getting ready for 2 shows in February I pulled out quite a few older paintings that for one reason or another never sold. The painting below ("Indian Paintbrush") is a perfect example. Luckily I have a Patron who saw this painting's potential. I was particularly pleased with how I handled the delicate new leaves on the tree at the right, but the red flowers pulled your eye away from that area. My patron, who lives in Austin, said all the fields were now covered with a carpet of yellow and she preferred that color. Bingo! At first, I kept a little of the red and added a few Bluebonnets. However; after some discussion, we agreed to just yellow with a little blue. I am always willing to please the patron, as I am also content with this sunny painting. It's important to be open to change in all its forms. There are always multiple solutions to every problem in Life and Art.

I started this painting years ago with a rustic brown vase and a few anemones but lost interest after a strong beginning. It happens sometimes, so I stashed the canvas in the back of my closet. Then last week a friend brought me this gorgeous arrangement from a charity gala Saturday night. I dropped everything I was doing and painted over my existing arrangement with a few of the original anemones peeking through. When painting flowers from life you had better be quick. I got the flowers Monday and by Wednesday most of them had faded. I tried to rearrange them by pulling out the dead ones but they crumbled in my hands. Luckily, I felt happy with the bouquet I had painted. Hopefully, I did make a Silk Purse from a Sow's Ear!

Happy Mother's Day Everyone! These flowers are for YOU!

Graham at 4 is still too young to hide his vulnerabilities so whatever he feels is written all over his face. He Really wants you to like him! Can you tell? The good news is most people do! But it's also hard being 4...so much to learn! Graham is my youngest grandson and even though they live in California, I am blessed that I see them every few months. His parents asked me to paint little portraits of the kids because they change so quickly. This is from Christmas and he is already taller with a thinner face. I don't like painting teeth but every time you look at Graham he gives you that full toothy grin. Maybe by Five, he will develop an attitude but for now, it is hard to catch him with any expression but full-on Joy or the depths of despair. At least his "baby teeth" are cute.

If you want me to paint a portrait or little oil sketch like this of your loved ones, email me here. For more information and prices go to my Website under PORTRAITS.