A Retreat Wednesday's Wanderings

This glowing Wednesday morn was greeted with smiles and anticipation. Today we are quickening thru our yoga, munching thru breakfast (although you can see Darlene, who's made a personal commitment to quickly sketch each breakfast, working away!) and plumply packing  our fabulous "brown-bag" bundle for our hike over to Duck Lake.

It's a mild four mile round trip up over the ridge behind Lake Alpine, dropping into a wide yawning meadow. Along the path we doddle for photos or nature detailing (did I mention one of the participants was a Botanist?), finally reaching Duck Lake and her languid granite surroundings.

Before our sandwiches, we launch into one of the two processes planned for our afternoon. Here is my resulting "Word Whittle" page, which I later illustrate according to the word I had selected. Can you guess what my word was? We break for our mid-day meal sprinkled amongst the trees and rock chairs. Sighs follow our round bellies and it's a good time to just watch Jean's demo for our next exercise. Once we attempt to understand "seeing" the way she's described, we patter off individually, seeking perfect subject matter for our version of "shadow-seeing". My "shadow" page not only reflected trees I was seeing, but I also had a flood of my own shadow side crop up. So I wanted to reflect that with the pensive portrait I found of myself ... keeping it also in solemn shadow monochromatic rendering.

Once back to the Lake Alpine cabins, we slithered into relaxation. The most robust activity we could indulge in ~ was the reading of our previous word exercise and sip wine! Our evening meal, "Lemongrass infused Jasmine Rice, Summer Beans and Ginger Marinated Prawns" was savory. Leaving the remaining hours filled with invested conversation and even some journal work (which I recall became so hilarious that I had tears of joy pouring down my cheeks!).

Gosh . . . and we just have to get up and have all this fun again tomorrow!!

Thursday's Retreat Heads Over the Ridge

This glistening Thursday shown with turquoise blue skies and warm sunshine. After our mornin’ yoga and a savory breakfast, we bustle, getting ready for our hike. We’d put of this hike to Thursday, waiting for more perfect weather – and today was just that!

By 10am we were and trekking over the ridge, dropping down into the lovely valley with Duck Lake resting in the palm of granite and green. After poking through the fascinating crumbling cabins of yester-year (great aged wood!) we weave through my beloved aspens groves. I just adore this area. The pristine surroundings, the sparkling lake, the sensual undulating granite!! Just to the left of Duck Lake are these waves of rock. We crawl like ants, poking and prodding from different vantage points in response to an exercise Jean has assigned us. Our aim was to simplify and then, later when we had time to peruse the quick sketches - - take one of our images to full color. Here's my completed page.
By now, it was lunch time and we find cozy dining upon rounded rocks to relish the elegant lunch our Izzy had packed and carried in pack, our “Roasted Vegetable & Goat Cheese Wraps with Romesco Dip, Apple and Chocolate Chip & Cocoa Nib Cookie and a homemade Protein Bar too”. Lovely, eh? And so sophisticated for a back-packed lunch!

Following lunch we proceed with one word exercise and then launch into some free time to start sketching. We love counting the catfish skittering below us in the shallow end but, also begin counting the plumpness of the cumulus clouds beginning to multiply over the ridge. To be wise and avoid being caught in any possible rain storm, we gather ourselves up and braid our way back up to ridge, homeward. It still allowed us silly time, like digging mushrooms (Izzy is a whizz at this!) and also great at being “a tree among trees”.

Once back to the cabins, we relax and refresh, ready for one more creative endeavor: Stamp Making. Subject suggested was something that depicts/epitomizes who “you” are. Here’s Kitty deep in the process and one result.

Our evening was not a let down compared to the already dynamite day … because it was our Finale’ Farewell Dinner. Izzy reached her peak of presentation and flavors and we playfully dished up "Roast Salmon with Israeli Whole Wheat Pearl Cous Cous and Summer Ratatouille (stewed Kale, Chard, Chickpeas and Squash)” and desserted with “Green Cardamom Flan”. She’d truly outdone herself and we fancied every moment of it!

Just another day in “Journaling Retreat” heaven and no relief in sight!