Colorado Reunion Ending into Plein Air at Eden Vale

So I've met up with my dear "sister" in Montrose to wrap up my Telluride Retreat adventure. Karen and I were sister-in-laws many years ago and the deep friendship has lasted many years past that. Those kind of relationships are rare and, for me, very treasured. We chose to have dinner the easiest way possible ... and just across the parking lot was ... "The Red Barn". Sure, salad bar sounds good to me on this hot Autumn evening and we giggle as we catch up. With an early-to-bed agenda to accommodate my early shuttle to the 6am flight out

of Medford, we nest into our beds early and say our g'byes. After one transfer at the Denver airport, I arrive safely into the arms of my honey, Roland and a wagging-tailed golden retriever, Cody. It is good to be back at the "660" address in cozy J-ville.

I'd scheduled and promoted my "Plein Air on Location at Eden Vale" two day workshop and had several participants signed up. Eden Vale Winery is a lovely painting venue, with a historic and elegant 2-story white mansion, rolling vineyards and a mountainous backdrop to savor. And the people are so kind and welcoming to work with ... I can't say enough about them. Above and beyond that ... our class meets for the last afternoon shadows and rich sunset. I select some yellowing grapes for a quick demo ... not too thrilled

with the results ... but plein air can be like that. Next afternoon, I've chosen the peak of the white barn peeking over the deep green vineyards and all that cupped by the budding roses and blue flower pot. This lil' sketch I'm more pleased with ... it feels more clear and complete. Again, some days paintings work, some times it's just turns out to be a learning experience.

And after all, isn't that what life is all about? What we make of our lessons? How we move on from situations, good and/or not-so-good, and what wisdom we squeeze out of the experience? and walk away smiling?

Colorado Reunion ~ Final Daze

My apologies for being so delinquent with my blog ... I've vowed to post daily 'til I get you guys caught up in my journals. So THERE it is! Let's get started ...

This is my final full day from the Telluride Reunion, September 2012, and it's one rich in memories. I'm up early to attend the Flora-Dora's "Trivia Quiz" from the 70s and I end up actually participating on a team. YIKES - since dates and names are not my forte'!! But we finish in the middle of the groups and I leave smiling. I patter off to change clothes for a final ride up the Gondola with my friends to lunch at the "Peaks" (wow - what a view!). I sketched this fabulous view back down into Telluride from a camera shot.

Once back from lunch my sadness and I trek back to my room to finalize packing up me and my paintings. As a final farewell treat, I've decided to go to the "Steamin' Bean" for a sunset cup of Chai. This image has ended up as one of my very favorite ... so much emotion there in the steam of the Chai and the sunsetting shadows. I love this place but my reality is elsewhere.

My next wake-up is bitter sweet. I'm all packed and my friend comes to drive me and my things over to Hether's, where the "Telluride Transfer" airport shuttle will pick me up. We have some extra time and we all opt for one last saunter along the picturesque river walk. It makes me blue.

Once I'm off in the shuttle, we swipe past numerous houses and even up to the Mountain Village to pick up passengers. The day is sunny - blue sparkling from the sky and the San Miguel River. I'm snapping photos longingly trying to maybe bring some of this county back with me. But soon we are dropping down into Ridgeway and finally Montrose. I'm the last to get off the shuttle.

At the Days Inn,  I'm poised to meet my previous sister-in-law for a catch up and dinner before I fly out in the early morning. The lodging is refreshingly clean and painted in glowing yellow (helping to brighten my mood too) and to my sheer delight . . . I find this darling lil' yellow rubber duckie sitting adjacent to the bath tub. Smiles!!! Soon Aunt Karen, as I still call her, arrives and we wander off into Montrose, chattering like lil' magpies. What a sweet relief from my leaving Telluride ... to spend this time with a precious friend. AHHhhh!

Some "Sweet-est Favorites" before Flying Off to Telluride Reunion

This has gotta be one of my happiest memory journal pages. Following some trips or events I like to just sit down after the fact and nest into what was the very, very "favorite-est" parts of that time. It is with this page I did just that for my "Women's Journaling Alpine Retreat 2013". On our final retreat day we'd all assembled delightful, diverse lil' "Harvest Books". Kind of what we in brief, had "harvested" from each of the rare and rich spirits of the women at this retreat.

T'was one of the most riotous and creative times at the entire retreat and I wanted the nest my book securely in my journal. I adore my book, with it's tumble of word descriptions in the middle page and then, the individually designed page by each retreat participant, chattering joy, inventiveness and personality across the small, folded pages. It's such a treasure, so unique! I chose this copper, iridescent envelope which I cut off so as to display and make accessible my fold-out book. I loved the "serendipity" of the rusty, copper-ish fishing hook and Chef Izzy's simply elegant business

card residing so cohesively on the page too. Truly a statement of tender gems my life has been sprinkled with ... reminding me I am absolutely blessed.   :)

And not much less charged with happy energy, the opposite page starts chronicling my Telluride Reunion trip. For not much less than a year, I'd made my decision to make this travel down memory lane. And as it unfolded, not only did I get to reunite with many friends but, I was able to show at THE gallery of my dreams too. This page gives you a peek out the final plane flight that took me from Denver over miles of exquisite Rocky Mountain terrain into Montrose. It was just east of Gunnison that I began seeing the small clumps of yellow dotting the mountains below. Oh WOW - - it was my beloved Aspen trees in their golden autumn garb. I nearly cried. Some of you know how connected my heart is to these trees ... many times tears have come to my eyes just being under these lovelies. And it really grounds me to my Colorado roots.

When I reached Montrose my ole' friend (as in having been a friend for forty five years) picked me up with hugs and excited conversation. We shopped for groceries for my next week in a lil' B&B and settled in to meet her new husband. Their cozy home cuddles up against the eastern slopes of the long valley leading to Ridgeway and seeing ole' familiar territory where I'd so long ago lived stirred my heart. We barbecued dinner in their front yard barbecue (which you see here) then, moved inside as the evening cooled.

Boy, did I feel like I was home. I folded myself into the deep mattress and covers of Colorado nights, smiling at the anticipation of the coming days.