Proud Mother of A Petsmart Graduate

This photo was taken this afternoon. After 8 weeks of intensive study, Olive the rescue beagle and I completed our coursework at Petsmart Academy. We received our diploma after completing a complex test of our newly acquired skills. I can now sit, stay and wait 30 seconds before I eat a treat. Olive can now walk me on a leash and command me to give her treats. Really though, the little dog did very well. When I first adopted her she was quite nervous as she had been in a cage with a small run for 3 years. She was used in some type of scientific research. It took her about 3 weeks to feel more comfortable and even like doggie treats. Now, her education looks promising if I continue to practice her skills with her. Remind me, will you?

They Brought Their Own Shopping Bags in Tuscany Long Before It was Trendy.........

I painted this little sketch the other day as a demo in my watercolor class. I used a photo for reference that I took in the Tuscan hilltown of Cortona. Today I went to our local supermarket carrying my own shopping bags and feeling very smug that I had remembered to bring them along. As I studied this painting tonight I remembered that the Europeans have been bringing their own shopping bags to market for a very long time. Why didn't we copy this idea a lot sooner? My own mother used to make fun of my grandmother because she got off the airplane from New York carrying a shopping bag, wow she was trendy way ahead of her time!

It's Official, We Are Going To France to Paint

A wonderful opportunity fell into my lap in May. The chance to teach a workshop in Durfort, France in a home especially restored into a retreat for artists! It was touch and go as I contacted everyone I know who I thought might be interested in going to France to paint. Just this week, I was given the ok to go ahead with the workshop this coming Sept. So, I and a small group of students will be setting off to paint here in early Sept. This is a photo of the typical buildings and wonderful shutters we will be painting.