Christmas Day

I am feeling much better today, still no appetite and it only hurts when I laugh now. I did want to lose weight, you have to be careful what you wish for. I know I am getting better because turkey and mashed potatoes sound awfully good right now after not eating for two days.

I thought I would just put up some more photos that I have found to be interesting.

I just had a visit from a couple of the kids, Juan Camillo and Francini, they live on the property, came by to wish a Feliz Navidad, they are the greatest kids, I just wish I could converse better with them, they told me that the thing above us on the eaves was a tarantula: any of several large, hairy spiders of the family Theraphosidae, as Aphonopelma chalcodes, having a painful but not highly venomous bite. Ahhhhh!!!!! I hope he is gone when I go out tonight.

The sky right now is absolutely gorgeous, sunsetting and mucho clouds and the colors of coral, cobalt blue and white contrasting, its very windy today and a bit cool. I rec'd a couple of wonderful presents of earrings from Susan & Patricia for xmas and I made everyone some magnets of geckos and dragonflies symbolizing good luck and creative forces.

I talked to Aja, Mom & Dad, Gayle & my nieces and nephew and of course my dear Cal.
Wishing all of you, my friends peace and joy today and always.

I will catch up on Christmas day with more photos, I have the flu and will be back soon.

Wicked Good Weekend

What a weekend! Eight very talented women went to the northern area of CR on a tour with our fearless leader Bernarda, (who is my spanish teacher as well). She is the most fearless of all, driving us around in a mercedes van, listening to us yap for 4 hours in the driving rain, thru backroads, jungles, through rivers, yes literally. What an experience! We saw the most spectacular views of the mountains and coffee, papaya, sugar cane plantations. The destination was the Maleku Indigenous Reserve. They were very gracious to us, gave us a visit of their gardens/jungle and explained their culture, traditions and shared their language and prepare a typical lunch. It was very primitive and enlightening. Then we traveled to Casado Rio Fortuna at the base of Mt Arenal, an active volcano that spits smoke and lava still. The clouds & fog covered the volcano, so I took a picture of a sign that showed it, the volcano is supposed to be right behind the sign and a perfect cone shape, great sign huh?

Winter Solstice

Carla, Mark & Susan


Resident of Bonanza Restaurante, Charlotte the Spider
I hear fireworks. What better way to celebrate than with focaccia and pasta...lol. Yes I made focaccia, I even brought my garlic press, I know I am crazy. Hey I am here for 2 months. I did not get anything done today other than getting my blog up to date. I am still working on that. Did some cleaning and went to MultiPlaza to window shop, it was crazy with last minute shoppers, went to the bank ATM to get some cash for the weekend trip and the machine gave me 200 colones, ($100.00) so I have this 2" thick stash of bills now, geesh. It just fits in my purse and I also made a copy of my passport to travel with at Office Depot, leaving passport here locked in room along with computer. Got to pack and review what I have done here, be back on Sunday and I will catch up on blog with a full report. It is raining now, it is a relief, it was very hot today. Hot flashes are back! Met a nice couple from Canada, they are traveling all around Central America, staying in hostels. They are co-workers of Susan's from Canada, they are brave and on their way to Nicaragua for the holiday. I had a snack with them at Bonanza and also met the new baby, Nina....Whim & Luz's grand-daughter.

Amber & Nina, (born December 4th, 2007)

Feliz Navidad

Yoga today was about breathing within a breathe, and I am all stretched out too. Learning some of the yoga positions now and is very difficult. Whim & Luz had plans after yoga so we got a ride from Martina. We dropped off Soizic. Susan & I walked to the colony from there. Soizic showed us around her casita, it is so cozy & muy bonita! WOW I even took pictures. Would love to rent it sometime. She invited us for tea next week. Soizic is giving some kind of a solstice meditation friday night and I will go if someone else goes from the colony, just curious at what she does to celebrate this day, it is very amusing.

I had a lovely dinner at Essentia again with Patricia (Washington, DC) this time, she is also a watercolorist and wished to see the hotel & grounds for a subject to paint, of course now I have an in there..hee hee. Anyway she found some orchids she wants to paint and she is going on Saturday to paint them, they are very unusual white orchids, that I even made my christmas card with. I am going to paint with her there maybe on Monday when I come back from my little trip with the girls to the Maluke reservation. Will have some great pictures from that adventure. It is PURA VIDA here!

Natures Maze

A lazy day in the colony, took a walk and took pictures, started another painting. Doing a couple projects on the computer that I didn't have time to finish when I was home. Michael & I had spanish class today. We described our E.T. in spanish, we did very well, it was very funny. Bernarda is a really great teacher and I am looking forward to the trip she has planned for us on Saturday to the Miluka tribe in the north. There are eight women going, oh boy! Susan is glad she is not going on this trip. She has to work at Bonanza Saturday & Sunday. We had our Wednesday night dinner at Fransisco's with some new artists and the typical Tico food for dinner. He apologized for all the noise of the construction and told us some plans for the future since Royce is no longer here anymore, a garden where the tennis courts are, which no one uses and new common area in between the writers studios. Cool nights make dinner and sleeping so comfortable!

Create Chaos, Find Order

The last day of construction today, another studio created from the "Nine Muses", the community/library/computer room. So it will be a bit more quiet today. There was no internet for most of the day. Just the birds and an occasional truck that needs a muffler goes by in Colon valley. I worked all day on my four large paintings, turning them upside down and sideways, studying there compositions. Reminding myself to take my time and enjoy the process.


Susan adopted a playground up the street. She spent the morning picking up garbage and filling large bags for pick-up. The best thing she said while doing it, was a costa rican boy started to help her. She found a necklace with a heart on it in the playground and gave it to the little boy and he gave it to his little sister. It had a heart on it.

Found some beautiful orchids on the colony property today too. Discovering something new everyday.

Alice came in from NY, she was with us last year also, so Carlos, Susan , Alice & I made plans to have dinner together someplace. Carlos took us on a mystery ride to the most beautiful spot in the Central Valley. We went up a really steep mountain and it was the most breathtaking view of all of San Jose. Great meal too with Tres Leche for dessert we all split. I am definetly making this when I get home.

Mandala Journey @ Essentia

La Mandala
I started the "mandala " at the Essentia Restaurant down the street from here, this morning. It is coming out very nice if I say so myself. It still is not finished, I'll finish tomorrow. Needed a few more colors in it that I didn' t have today. So I am showing the progression of it. These are two pictures #1 taken after finishing all of the drawing, 39" circumference. #2 taken after finishing just the center 3 hours in a very different light that will make it even more dramatic looking. It will look different in each time of the day, it has a chandelier next to it, so at night it will glow. The center depicts a dried flower found on a path, lavender flowers that grow in bunches and fall like wisteria, bamboo leaves, dragon flys and a border of waves. Colors TBD.

Definition: A mandala is usually a circle format illustrating a "personal world" in which one lives, the various elements of the mandala or the activities and interests in which one engages, the most important being at the centre of the mandala and the least important at the periphery. Depicting a personal mandala in pictorial form can give a good indication of the state of one's spiritual life.

I love painting mandalas and giving the assignment to students. I am working on a smaller one as well which was the plan for the big one.

Michael, another writer in colony came down to keep me company for a little while, he went in the jacuzzi and we also had a wonderful lunch "on the house" while I was painting the mandala. We got back to the colony and I sat outside at Susan's casita and painted the smaller one. Juan Camillo, 11 and his friend Estephano, 11 came by to say hola and we had a lesson in spanish and they had a lesson in english, really nice boys. They picked us some tangerines with a special fruit picker pole, I forgot the name of it, but it gets the ripe ones from the top of the trees. I went to Susan's because the grounds man are doing construction and making lots of noise around the studios getting another casita ready for occupancy and a community room. Some of the artists are very unhappy about the noise.

I am a bit dissapointed today too, I thought I was going to able to paint with Patricia Forrester, a watercolor artist who has comes every year since the colony opened. She has been painting a really, really large painting on a farm, a vinca. The owner has asked she not take anyone else on the property. Ticos are very protective of their land and he didn't want the colony to have thoughts of anyone else coming onto it for subject. So, hopefully before she leaves in a couple weeks we can go somewhere else to paint together.

Full moon tonight

Alice & Susan came over for potluck tonight and we are still reminiscing, catching up from a year of travels and tribulations. Because we three were here last year together at this time.

The Colony

Carlos & Josh












Michael












Josh, Isha, Nancy & Patricia

Just Another Ordinary Day

Carlos made bamboo supports for Nancy's drawings of bamboo. She is in a big show at The National Gallery in San Jose, February 8, 2008. Too bad I won't be able to go to it. She has done some beautiful bamboo drawings with graphite and substracts the graphite instead of drawing with it. And when they were choppping off the extra branches it came to me that bamboo will be my christmas tree this year. It will be the best looking christmas tree in Costa Rica.

Susan's Back Pocket
Susan & I took a walk to Colon for ice cream in the afternoon. El helado de hilgo, (fig ice cream) and vanilla/lemon sherbert, not together but two different cones. Worked the rest of afternoon on some sketches for a new painting.

Josh, Nancy & I took a taxi and went to Bacchus Restaurant for dinner, I had sea bass with mussels in a wine sauce, that melted in my mouth and a wonderful antipasto with potatoes and some great company!

My Daily Horoscope - Overview For Today: December 15, 2007

Art is incredibly appealing to you right now, but you may find that you're even happier producing it than viewing it. Try to make sure that you expose yourself to culture in some big way early on.

Enchanted

Colon Valley
4x9 watercolor by Lorraine Bromley

The Nutcracker at the Teatro Nacional, San Jose on Thursday night. A spectacular ornate building in the center of the city, inside and out. The ballet was enchanting. I took a few pictures after asking if it was ok. Then I was told by someone else not to take pictures, so I put the camera down and walked out at the end without my camera. I realized it when were still in the city and went back to the theater to get it and the whole theater was shut tight, it was weird, having only been there a half an hour ago when there was dancers, Tchaikovsky, an audience, clapping, and now going back into building with security was like I was in a play myself, it was pitch black, no lights, he turned on a single light to lead the way to the backstage, he opened the huge red velvet curtain and I was on stage, felt weird, I walked down the center stage (I bowed..no I didn't) and took the upstairs to my balcony and there was no camera there. I panic. Had nightmares all night. Carlos took me back to the theater this morning and security turned it into office. What can I say, it was an emotional moment!

So, I wonder where fantasy ends and growing-up begins.

P.S. Talia the dog just ate a lizard.




I think Cal needs a new hat!!!

It Takes My Breathe Away

Yoga today, some grocery shopping .... dip in dark blue pool...83 degrees here in Cuidad Colon and thinking about the mural size painting the owner of the Essentia restaurant asked me to do on his wall in his restaurant. Monday morning I will get a ride to the restaurant early to leave my marks on a wall as many other artists have done before me. Glass art, paintings, sculpture, recycled stuff made into art, little cozy places to sit and enjoy the avairy and jungle. Great place to stay, eat or come to relax in the spa. Has to be one of my favorite places now in CR. Very peaceful place.

Exploration

"Amongst the Bamboo"

watercolor by Lorraine Bromley

(detail)

Meditation in Motion

Yoga today was very strenuous, but excilerating. I even like the ride to yoga. looking at the homes, vegetation. Janine the yoga instructor is an amazing instructor, watching her move is meditation in motion. I hope to be that flexible or just a little bit more than I am now, geesh...so hard right now with extra weight and the arthritis. But I will get to a different place some day. Cal & I will find a yoga class on weekends to go to when I get home.

The Butterfly Farm in Alejuhah was fascinating, doesn't matter how many times I see a butterfly, I get awestrucked, is that a word? Their cocoons are just as awesome to look at too. Metallic gold and some look like sterling silver. Some look like beach glass. Patterns on their wings imitate my landscapes.

Livelula

Interesting chat with Royce the director of artist colony. His last day is Friday here and maybe there will be another Costa Rican Artist Colony to check into the future. I met another artist Patricia Forrester today, she is very well known and one of the artists that helped get this colony started. I am going out plein-air painting with her this week, and it will be wonderful to be on-location with someone. I have been taking great pictures when I am out wandering, and then working in studio painting, but to have someone to paint with in the area who knows the area, knows spanish and loves being outdoors for along time will be wonderful to be with.

I found the most beautiful red dragonfly (livelula) today, it will go in one of the paintings tonight. Luis insisted carrying it to my studio for me, so I wouldn't have to touch it. I also have a small black and white butterfly in the studio keeping me company along with "goforit", the gecko. Carlos is taking me to a butterfly farm closeby in the afternoon tomorrow and more photos. I let Michael borrow the camera to take a movie of his dinner with a family in town celebrating Hannakuh tonight. I sam till eating my chicken soup I made the other day, made alot of it, it does have a costa rican flavor to it, coriander and oregano. The trees out my door are so full of oranges/lemons and grapefruits, they are falling from the trees, so I squeezed about 10 or so. They start to go bad very fast. So now I have juice to add to my water, salad and some to marinate my fish in this week.

Had my first spanish lesson today, felt like a first grader. Have to practice my words and the more words I can memorize I feel I can get by and get my point across. I'll be sneeking spanish in all my conversations from now on.

Still having fun experiementing with my designs.

The Secret Garden

It's so black out there tonight. I saw some dark clouds come around the mountains out these huge windows, they must be still out there still, no moon, no stars. I am lost in my imagination with today's find, a garden was introduced to us today while walking into Colon this morning. I was taking pictures of a red hibiscus and at the same time an older woman was just getting dropped off by a taxi and asked if we would like to see some more flowers in her garden. Of course we could not resist the invitation and saw the most beautiful secret garden behind her casa. Orchids, jasmine, in a jungle, we had to duck under overgrown leaves as big as us along narrow paths, but so awesome. Walking along with the lady of the garden and her husband, and we found out it was Jauns grandparents, Juan works on the landscaping here in colony, he is about 18 yrs old. Great kid. "Nice", people. Nancy & I found other artifacts too to capture on film, only artists would find an air plant, squished by a car facsinating on the road and I am drawing it in one of my paintings, go figure, you will love it. lol Had a great day of painting today!

Made chicken soup today for the next couple days, muy bueno and looking forward to my Spanish class tomorrow with Michael & Bernarda.

The Sun, the Moon and Kindness

The sun rose again in orange and pink, in the same place'
The rooster crowed his morning song the same way
This place tends to me,
The sky still bright behind the mountains and yellow,
green light still shimmers sneaking its way thru a crevice of a valley,

The new day turns to the darkness of midnight blue,

A night of the cresent moon and
The jasmine again sends it's sweet scent to me, I remember,
It tends to me. LB

San Jose for lunch at the super mercado, a menagerie of vendors, selling fish, meats, octopus, fruits, herbs, christmas decorations, leather goods. I found a remedy for migraines. Some local honey for my rosa de jamaica tea, papaya abounds here, juicy and a meal in itself. City is not a place I want to spend much time in, ok for visit, but too much for this country girl. Too many people. Wonderful casada with rice, beans, bananas, chicken, potatoes. No dinner for me today, but I did enjoy a glass of white wine with artist Nancy next door and Michael, a writer.



Michael told us a story that he had dinner with a local family last night. He had taken a walk to cuidad Colon and he had his yamaka on, a man recognized it and told him he had just converted to judism and he and his family would love to have him for dinner after knowing now that Michael was here in the colony for a short time, so he had celebrated one of his nights with a Costa Rican family for hanakuh. He said it was so nice and his new friend walked up to colony to walk Michael. Many stories of the great tico ways of acts of kindness.

Susan had a funny story too. We had gone to yoga the other day with another couple who drove us there, WHim &Luz, they dropped Susan off so that she could meet up with another friend after yoga at a cafe and when she got out very fast not to get hit by on coming traffic, she got out with only one shoe, well we did not know this and took off with her other shoe, there she was with one shoe on and no way of retrieving the other till later. She had to explain to a man close by unloading a truck in her best spanish what had happened and he said to her uno momento senorita and returned with a pair of flip flops for her. We call it her "Cinderella" story. I could not stop laughing when she told me.

Time to play, magic happens

In order for my work to continue to evolve, I get involved in playfulness and take the opportunity to look at the what-ifs. Whatever the result, it expands my vision by letting go of who I think I am and discovering the spirit within.

Yes and after a time this place begins to remember and tend to you. I played all week and finally have a good feeling today about what I am doing here now. Alot of progress & inspiration today, I was getting a little worried.

Creativity-Peace-Balance

Yoga was great this morning in a studio that was long, narrow three glass walls surrounded by bamboo trees. It touched all my senses. I will go back on Thursdays to this class. Took a ride around the area, went to Price Right (BJ's) and bought a big bag of almonds for snacking, a papaya, ceviche, and mouthwash, weird combination.

I just made the ceviche for dinner tonight, "Oh my God", it was sooooo good, easy to make very fresh (sushi-grade) white-fleshed ocean fish, such as grouper, wahoo, sea bass, or red snapper, (it was a mix), lime juice, fresh orange juice, pineapple juice, red pepper, diced yellow pepper cilantro, extra-virgin olive oil, marinate, added rice when cooking it and the juices cook the rice. Muy bueno!!!


I just now see a gecko on my wall.....where has he been all week? Must be "Go For It", he is moving around in spurts. Oh geesh! Maybe I should give him a paintbrush. See him? He is way down towards the left corner. He is making his way towards me.


I am finding these wonderful quotes in different places, inspiring me.

"Creativity is the ability of a person (or a gecko) to respond to visual and other sensory stimuli in an original way, and then to share with passion, individuality and spirit." Gerald Brommer

Seeing the Light

Walks on the property in the morning is refreshing, listening to grapefruits, oranges and tangerines drop as they ripen and fall from the nearby trees. The bamboo singing and insects calling. The tangerines, sweet and wonderful, but have to be eaten right away, otherwise they sour. Luis (pictured above) taking a break from some renovations here on property, I was on the way to the Bonanza Restaurante for lunch yesterday which is next door to the colony, there is a secret path to it in the forest. Real secret, sign to it and all. But, it's really a path just for the colony guests to get too. I remember the sunsets sipping mojitos there last year. Lunch was delicious today, just some nachos piled high with diced tomatoes, guacamole, sour cream and beans...mmmm. I walked over with Susan, she is working there temporarily filling in for Amber (waitress), who had a baby girl on Tuesday, Nina is her name.

I had been wondering why my phone was not working in the studio. All the buttons were in the right setting. Kept testing it and no ring, but could make a call out "mmm" I said. I finally realized it was not a bug or bird that was chirping, it was my phone ringing. Never heard a phone chirp before. Kind of a good idea actually, not so abtrusive. I saw this bug on the screen window the other day when I heard the chirp, so I thought it was the big green bug, but then when it chirped again the day after there was no bug on the screen, very smart conclusion I know.

Dinner was delightful and full of chit chat, Nancy artist, (Boston), Josh, (Amhearst, MA), Michael (Berkley, CA), Ish (?) musician, Susan (Canada) artist, musician. Fransico (owner) made tilapia fish, mashed potatoes, broccolli, salad. It was at Fransicos house which is built on a really steep hill, I get out of breathe just walking up to door, beautiful deck with view of Cuidad Colon valley, The large whole living room opens up to, I will take pictures next Wednesday night dinner. He speaks a little english with spanish, it his own language, funny, crazy driver, says he was a famous soccer player for CR.

I think I have to write at end of day, because I forget what I did the day before if I wait.Bear with me, I amjust writing like I am talking to myself.

The perception of light is the loveliest thing in the world.

Little Rain Must Come

I started a painting already from the first picture I took yesterday of the valley. I didn't take many pictures yet, I am just getting warmed up. But I kept going back to this one picture for my inspiration of the day, because it was my first.

It rained yesterday just a little, enough to make the photos I took look fresh. It was hot 81 degrees then the rain cooled the day down.

A small bug, light green and a yellow head, with lace wings I noticed on my Costa Rican Spanish phrasebook this morning. I must have put the book on it and squished it when I layed it down last night. Even the bugs are beautiful here.

As I was working in my studio I had the door open and outside my door is a tree with, what was a fresh bunch of bananas hanging from it, and now all dried up. It is now a bird feeder. With the door open I kept seeing the most colorful birds come to it during the day, I tried to capture with my camera but the trunk always seem to be in the way. Little bluebirds, yellow birds, a bird book is in my future. And across the driveway was another dried bunch of bananas that the squirrels took over.

Catching Happiness

Awakening to the first morning sunshine, "pura vida". Great cup of java and the usual yogurt breakfast, writing morning journal, little construction going on here at colony fixing up things. I also had a visit from a gecko this morning as I openend my door to let the warm breeze in, I am sure it was a "welcome back" greeting. Lots of oranges ready to pick outside the door. And I am almost ready to paint this morning, got to move things around a bit here for comfort. Great night sleep with no hot flashes, go figure. mmmmm weird. Susan had a couple avacados waiting for me last night, my favorite fruit, and a rose on my table. Nice welcoming. Susan was here last year and another friend, Alison will be returning in a couple weeks that was here last year with us. I have not met all the new kids on the block yet. I met Josh, a writer, from Amhearst, MA, we watched the last half of Patriots game last night on ESPN in the "muse", community room. Now, really I must get to work, I mean play, I mean work, yea yea work. Art is work.

"Sometimes, our thoughts turn back toward a corner in a forest, or the end of a bank, or an orchard powdered with flowers, seen but a single time on some gay day, yet remaining in our hearts and leaving in soul and body an unappeased desire which is not to be forgotten, a feeling we have just rubbed elbows with happiness." Guy de Maupassant

Costa Rica Arrival a Success-Yippeee

A long day, with a couple of scares, really rough ride and landing this time, very scary and then steward tells me immigration might not let me in the country because I didn't have a return flight booked yet, but it worked out fine, they didn't even ask me when I was returning to the states, geesh, got my stomach in knots for no reason---patriots won---weather is grand, my tummy is full, I have my old studio here in Costa Rica, feels like I never left it. Can't wait to get into my artwork tomorrow, get acclimated to my surroundings again and set up house. Went grocery shopping, so I am set up for the week, except I forgot to buy toothpaste at mercado. I don't see my friends, the geckos tonight yet. Have made tentative plans for a tour for 22nd & 23rd of Dec with friends here, of the indigenous people in Costa Rica, we will go directly to Guatuso where the "Malekus" live and we will visit their ranch, Rancho Margarita where they will meet us about 11am. They will give us an explanation of their culture and give us an traditional lunch that includes vegetables and fish prepared inside banana leaves and cooked with other delicious natural spices. Then we will walk in the family's garden and have a very interesting explanation about the usage of plants for eating and medical purposes. After that, don Rigo, the grandpa and his grandchildren will have a theater performance for us. Finally, we go back to the ranch where we will view their craftwares. That is a whole afternoon tour. In the evening, we go to our bed and breakfast LA CASONA where we will spend the night. That is about 10 minutes from the town La Fortuna (where the Arenal Volcano is located). My Spanish teacher, Bernarda set this little excusion for us today and set up Spanish lessons for me too.

Back to Costa Rica

Going back to Costa Rica, December 3rd until the end of January. I will be painting, drawing and experimenting my watercolor techniques, lettering arts and other mediums. Journaling will be another great excersise here in my blog. I can't wait!!!

Kodie's Vacation

(these are excerpts from my new biography, The Life & Times of Me, Kodie, as dictated to my friend Lorraine)

Day 12
Well, I am still on vacation. This a long one, but well deserved. A little rain today, but I am having a delightful visit with Lorraine & Cal. Cal's son Ben came over too, to watch the Patriots game on Sunday, we had fajitas, mmmmmm good. I chased the frisbee and did some tricks for everyone. I love being on the compund here and sharing my vacation with my friends. Ciao

Day 1
Hi Humans
Well, I am on my own vacation here in Wickford, having a wonderful time, wish you were here. Nice breezes, sunshine, I am very happy here on the Mark/Don compound, as I sun myself today. This is my usual activity here on the estate. I did excercise a bit today though, went for a walk with Lorraine, Adele & Ricky, we stopped and had coffee & I ate Cal's toast while we had a rendevoux with the "breakfast club" at the cafe, it was delightful, jumping up on everyone and whining, I love being a dog! I will dictate more later.

Day 2
Hola!
Walking, toast, TV, chasing squirrels, sleeping under the covers, whining, running in puddles, bath, sniffing, jumping, visiting. A dogs life is so blissful!

Skiathos

Kalimera, sunshine, yogurt, honey, almonds, hazelnuts, croissants, chocolate spread, coffee, fruit de mar, boat taxi, old port, new port, internet cafe, local wine, beads, mobiles, colors, pine cones, cold salt pool water, hard beds, beautiful, hillsides of orange rooftops, steep hills, rocky coastline, driftwood, lots of photos, olive products. sweet smells. Evelyn, Niamh, Maire, Cathal, intricate wrought iron gates, ally ways, lace curtains, shells, leather, peaches, apricots, figs, blue flowers to be continued

Dublin, Ireland
Cheerio, now I am back in Ireland with Evelyn. I tried to post the above blog when I was in Skiathos but the computer wouldn't let me, who knows what the problem was, so I saved the draft and now publishing it. Anyway, today I am on my way home to RI and so ready too.

Visiting Skiathos & Skopelos was a wonderful trip, now that I have been to three of the Greek Islands I love them all and will want to see the others. They have some things in common but, each one it's own flavor and Greek ways. Very interesting. I feel that each time I go away I come back a different person. Can't explain it really. Maybe just a little more appreciating of what I have been brought up with. Not all good, not all bad. The respect for family and the comfort of friends, my health, my passions, enjoying the experiences that everyday brings. Can't wait to review my photos and start to paint what I came to love about these islands.

I think Crete is still my favorite, with it's ancient history, ruins, the actual size, villages and most of all it's most hospitable people. to be continued

Skopelos, The Green Island

SEPTEMBER 9-14, 2007. . . kalimera. peaceful. jasmine. ocean. aqua. peppled beach. rocky coast. moussaka. nescafe frappes. tzatiki. warmth. sunshine. warm wind. chicken. yogurt. peaches. fig trees. almonds. music. worry beads. backgammon. Panormas beach. jellyfish. umbrellas. pine trees. cafes. monastaries. puffy white clouds. dirt roads. steep hills. sailboats. fishing boats. colors. scooters. beads. ceramics. scarves. pastries. honey balls. bees. greek salads. feta. Mythos beer. ferry. Mama Mia. white.blue. calamari. sardines. fried cheese. skopelos pie. red wine. olive trees. ouzo. watermelon. . . . kalisera. . . to be continued

Breakfast in Dublin

Good Morning.
Had a delightful day riding bike through Pheonix Park on Wednesday, went about 5 miles, saw many dear feeding in the fields there and a pleasant ride through the outskirts of Dublin city in Castleknock where Evelyn and Tom live. Went over my website with Tom, who is very knowlegdable about building one and we finally got the domaine name for myself staightened out. www. lorrainebromley.com put aside for it. (under construction)

On my way to the city of Dublin today, going to take a bus tour for myself and hopefully see the "Book of Kells", today, Thursday at Trinity College. It's a fine day laddies. Nice breakfast, toast & marmalade, strawberries, and coffee with Evelyn and Missy, the her cat. TTYL

Traveling Fool

I'm thinking about all the things I have to do beforeI take off again on a journey to Ireland & Greece. The list stays about the same as I cross off and add to.

FunFitTrain logo
Postcard for Jane
Drop off painting to WAA
"M" & "J" design for Kelly
Adele's birthday present
Aja's birthday
Oz's thank you's
Send thank you to friends for birthday
Pick up painting from RIWS
Pack for Sept 5
Frame small paintings of shells
Dry Cleaners
Anniversary card to M&D
Clean Car out
Touch base with Neil
Move things around in house
Weed
Norman's BC
Deposit to Citizens
Cal's B-Day

First Day of Summer

I know I am quilty of being a procrastinator. mmmmm I have not written anything for so long. I have been traveling with my students to Crete, in Greece, visiting with my parents, who were visiting from FL, spending time with my grandson, Hudson, & gardening. So, you see I am always up to something. Still painting my little heart out. Have alot of great pictures from my trips to paint, not to mention painting the gardens of Wickford with my Friday morning classes.

There will be showers today, yuck, and Mary has many errands for me to do, since her family is coming to visit this week. I will take advantage of the time to paint in my studio, because she will not need me around.


One of the reasons I have not written in my blog is that my cd drive is broken, (good excuse) so I have not had the ability to upload pictures to it. But I will have time to fix that problem too this week.

Thursday June 21st 5-8 is the East Greenwich Main Street Stroll, art, music, & food and I will be in front of Cafe Fresco talking to passerbys, exibiting my recent small watercolors of Costa Rica, Greece, and local scenes. Hope you can stop by and chat.

Ok I am back with "my Mary" this week. After a week and a half of time off while her family was visiting her. I accomplished alot of painting, some framing, some cleaning, and gettig over the flu. Cal is away too, so it has been very lonely here in Wickford. I have alot of projects in the works to keep me busy and out of trouble.

• co-ordinating the Crete Watercolor Painting Workshop
• started another blog about my grandson www.tuesdayswithhudson.blogspot.com
• working on my series of 22 x 30 paintings of hibiscus and wisteria
• working on altered books from the round robin group from around the country
• Graceful Envelope Contest due April 30th
• North Kingstown Arts Council watercolor classes at WAA Thursday evenings (4)
• Working out at FUNFITTRIM twice a week with Trainer, Chris
• Walking again now that the weather is warmer in the mornings a couple miles
• To find a place to exhibit my paintings

Wickford Update

Happy Valentine's Day . . I feel all your love . . . hee hee . . . Well we finally got some snow. It's nasty here in RI with snow changing to rain and ice. But cozy on this Valentine's day. Had a nice day with "My Mary", changing beds, watering plants, polishing her nails, dishwashing and trying to figure out what was wrong with the dishwasher, (still do not know why it was leaking so much suds) maybe I put too much soap in it today. We had lunch and our usual board meeting. We had many phone calls today and rec'd roses from her son Joe. He addressed them to us "girls", so we will enjoy them this week, all the colors. Doing lots of work on the computer lately with designing new ads for publicatons and lots of emails. Updating bogs for myself and the studio. Well it is time to get my valentine dinner ready for Cal, pasta with red peppers and spinach. Dinner and a movie, we are in for the night. Cal & I going shopping for new clothes this week too. Yippeee, Thank you sweetie!!! Shouldn't everyday be Valentine's Day? I spend time with my too favorite boys for Valentines this week, my week now is complete, my grandson who hugs me and kisses my whole face & the man who gives me inspiration and tickles my fancy, Cal. Hope you tell your valentine how much they mean to you today.

Spirit of Art Studios

This is the name of my studio/gallery at Shady Lea Mills Artist Complex in Wickford. It is a great space where Cal & I, my friends and students can get creative. It overlooks a river and has over 35 other artist studio suites. There is a wonderful energy there that eminates so please stop by and visit, have a cup of tea. Feel free to come and create conversation, art or critique with us. The following blog (below link) is an attempt to keep up with classes and workshops, tips and other art related news for you from the studio.

Directions: Rt 95 s-Rt 4 s-Rt 1 junction take first left, cross over to Shady Lea Road, follow winding road to mill on right, 2nd floor to suite 205

http://spiritofartstudios.blogspot.com/

Today I am looking over a grant opportunity to apply for through the RISCA (CAFE). Pulling together 10 paintings for submission. There are some written materials to prepare before submitting package too, and I am able to apply for it online. Should be easy enough, but so competetive. Interesting! Deadline Feb, 12th. Wish me luck. Here are some paintings I have done in my travels this year. I will submit them with my resume. Let me know what you think.

Getting my act together for the waterolor workshops I am planning for 2007, back to Greece in May, Carribbean in July, Wickford in August, back to Costa Rica in December.

Saturday

It's morning on a very cold day in RI, about 12 degrees. Doing laundry, dog/house sitting, planning my Saturday chores. Talked to Adele this morning and we are thinking of Ricky and wondering how we can help her get through her difficult time. Will pick up Mark & Don at 1:00pm at the airport and hopefully pick up my new corner desk at the consignment shop today for the kitchen/office at home, now that my computer is fixed, alot to orgainze there. Will fix up the office today is my plan and then meet the other boys Richard, Craig and Denny for dinner in Little Compton to celebrate Richards birthday. I have to fit in baking a focaccia today too. Cleaning up my mess now here at Mark's, making bed back up and doing dishes, making sure Kodie is happy too. Cal told Kodie they her daddys are on their way home, so she is pretty happy today knowing things will be normal again. Off to the races!

Friday

good evening all
Kodie & I are keeping warm, Cal is at apt suffering with his sinuses (he did see a Dr. today, finally) and the cold. The apt is so cold, those old houses with no insulation and old windows, not to mention when he came home he turned the heat off instead of turning it up. So, for about two hours it was off. It is 15 degrees right now outside and about 57 degrees in the apt. Nice and warm here though at the "dog house". Kodie wants all of us to put our "furs" on to keep warm. She is not staying outside very long, it is not fit for man nor beast. She misses her daddy's warm hearts too. She buries her head in their jackets I find on the floor when I come home to her. Keep warm, think warm, imagine being in warm Costa Rica.

Thursday

ok, my computer at home is with Dr. Kris. Hopefully it is just the vga card. Keep your fingers crossed. Kodie is smelling my coat and I found my clothes all over the floor when I came in tonight. Cal and I met at Duffy's tonight for dinner, he is sleeping at home tonight. Good... I get the bed tonight instead of the couch. It was my suggestion. Go figure. We will both get a better nights sleep tonight. He is still suffering from his sinuses. I will miss him. I am going to chill out tonight and get my list together for tomorrows tasks. Kodie wants to go out. Is she always on the wrong side? I would've taken her picture to put online but I let someone borrow my camera. Tomorrow I will get it back and put her portrait up on the blog, she is begging me to put it up on the internet. She is such a ham.

Wednesday

Good Evening
We got all the menus to J&W in the morning. Kodie & I waited for Cal till very late Wednesday night. We ate without him. We both curled up on the chair. I left the couch open for Cal, so he could fall asleep there and I could sneek in the bed before he started to snore. But it didn't work. I ended up on the couch again. Can not sleep with him anymore. Kodie whimpered for her dolly that was in the bedroom, we got it and she stayed with me in the living room for the rest of the night. She couldn't sleep either with all the noise.

Tuesday

Hello
Tuesday day off. Well, I have been too busy to blog, sorry, but I am catching up now. Kodie is being good. She snubbed her nose to chili the other night. Yes there is chili left, I will put it into freezer for Daddy Mark and Daddy Don. Little Hudson came over to visit Kodie, and Aja and we all had lunch (cheese quesadillas) with her. Kodie didn't want to go for a ride with us after lunch, so we left and finished our errands. Aja went back to the salon and Hudson and I had to go to the studio and play. We drew on everything and we played with the measuring tape again for a long time, and measured my butt. He thinks that is the funniest thing. Anyway, I brought him to his Dad and brought all my projects back to the "dog house". A Johnson & Wales menu was the mission for the night while we watched the big screen TV. Coallating, hole punching and putting ribbons on. The three of us working very hard to get them done for morning delivery. What a bitch they were to do! Kodie called it night at 10:13PM looking for her dolly and went to bed. I slept on couch again, cause they make so much noise. Cal mostly! Over & Out

Monday

What a day! Depressing! The Pats lose, how pathetic. My computer died, thought it was the monitor, so I bought a new one, got it all connected and the same thing, no image on screen, what's up with that. Guess what, my computer ran out of space, I did get a warning the other day about it and I thought, "I still have room". No I don't, nothing, I hope I can recover. I had to rush around all day redoing things at the printers, getting groceries for Mary, buying a new monitor, and feeling very sick at the same time. I had flu-like symtoms all day. That bed is going to feel so good tonight. I think I will fall asleep on the couch, (yea right that will be different) Need a bite to eat first. Kodie has eaten and she is fulfilled, I am waiting for Cal to come here from Braintree, maybe I will just close my eyes for a minute.

Well hello
I am sweating again with the hot flashes, Cal is freezing and I am hot, go figure. We are ready for the Pats game tonight. I made chili to die for. Had a really full weekend, got our new furniture, shopped for lamps, we did not find anything, still looking now for the perfect finishing touches. I love it.
Kodie girl was trying to let me know I forgot to feed her, its 6:30 pm and she was talking to me and I was not catching on, and then finally, about an hour I came to my senses that she had not been fed her soft food. What was wrong with me. Geez. She is now my friend. Thank goodness! She is quite content now sleeping. Thinking and sending get well wishes to Daddy Don to get better, we are sending him all her sweet dog kisses to get well. Kodie's is thinking of you Don.

Morning
Its pretty bright outside this morning, feels cold. Not much sleep between Cal snoring and Kodie snoring last night. I'll catch up later watching TV. I just made a big pot of coffee, fed Kodie and now just realized I forgot to buy milk, so I'll see if there is any vanilla ice cream, mmmm. Today Cal & I have to figure out how to pick up our new furniture for living room at Alpert's, we are considering a U-Haul truck, because Alperts want to charge us a stupid amount to deliver it. Approx. $300.00. So... getting it to 1 Tower Hill Road is the mission this weekend. Kodie is sleeping on her bed by the door, looking over at me right now with those sad eyes, checking the yard occassionally looking out for squirrels invading the yard. Got the mail this morning, took in the recycle bins, and the new Conde Nast is in for review, so my tasks today are set right now, coffee, conde nast and making sure Kodie is happy before I leave.

Greetings
Well, "Kodie girl" (dog-sitting this week) is being very good dog. We went to the studio yesterday for my "Drawl Crawl" get-together. Lorraine M. and I met and painted and Kodie ran around wimpering, then she would sit for just awhile then she would whimper again. I finally brought her back home where she is most comfortable and fed her and then I went to get fed came back later on to have a pajama party, just her & I. Cal decided to stay at home last night, he hasn't slept much this week with his allergies, so Kodie & I watched "Top Chefs" ate all the M&M's and I fell asleep on the couch until about 2 am then I got into bed with her, yes Kodie was waiting for me in the bed. The day in the life of Kodie & Lorraine B.
To be continued

ok, getting into the swing of things here now. My photos from Costa Rica are great, looking at them over & over, deciding which ones should be enlarged for an exhibit. Which ones will be paintings. Did two more small paintings of CR this weekend with Lorraine & Bill Saturday night, Lorraine, Cal & I painted while Bill played on his laptop. What other couple can you do that with? It was a really nice evening, just painting and chatting about what came to mind, sometimes we did not talk at all.

Things To Do List

• Flyer to attract more students for Fridays and Wednesdays.
• Pick up paintings being framed
• Drop off new ones to be framed
• coordinate trip to Crete
• advertisement for the Villager
• Dr.'s appt and refill

Well, first day back with my Mary, she let me chat about Costa Rica and made believe she saw all my pictures on the computer as I rambled on & on over our coffee and fresh scones. She asked me alot of questions, this too was part of our morning daily board meeting. Couple hours went by and we cleaned out her refridgerator, because I found the milk that went bad, of course it was after I put it in my coffee. We went to the grocery store ad got the usual, "eggos, bananas for my famous protein shakes she loves, the cheese sticks, the apple turnovers, cranberry juice, some eggs. This is what we get every few days. We also stopped at the Gormet shop, we never get more than a cup of hot chai, either to go or to take out. Today we took it to go, because it was already time to leave her house and do some more reorganizing in my house. Five hours.

I bought a couple plants for the living room and some of those "natural/grow lights" for the lamps to help brighten up the room. It is looking bore comforting everyday and the old apartment more airy and open. I finally got a chance to talk to Aja, she called from Brazil and gave me her number where she is, so I can call back this week, I feel like talking to her tomorrow too. I chatted with my brother, Neil too tonight and we will get together on Thursday night to catch up on life. He just got back from visiting Mom & Dad in Florida, so he will have some funny stories to tell and I can share my stories of Costa Rica.

I do love this apartment and now that it has grown, I am loving it more. Nicole will come over tomorrow, I need her help and she will have some great ideas for decorating it. She has such a great eye for rearranging a room with finese and style, and on a limited budget working with what we have. Cal is feeling really negatively on the place now that the window is gone, and I am hoping I can come up with a solution for more light in there. I think it is cozy, and so much light in all the other rooms, I don't know what the big deal is, but he has a right to his opinion, I just hope he accepts this when I get it fixed up. This place has so many other good things about it, storage, parking, high celings, big yard, my gardens, now a place for his sons to stay if they want to or for guests. Why is he making this such an issue, I don't get it.

Hola
Made it back just fine to RI, quite uneventful. It was such a pleasure to see my Cal waiting for me with a big smile, unshavened but smiling. His luggage got lost from his trip to Kyiv, with the razor. Anyway, didn't matter. Kissing my whole face, felt scratchy but comforting. We got home and had a bowl of cereal and then crashed. I have not unpacked yet, trying to get both apartments now situated so that it feels like home. We took on the next door apartment with a hallway in between the two. We bought a beautiful rug and floor lamp and I would really like to use the natural light bulbs in the room, for the landlord closed up the only window in the living room, (long story) while we were both away. Great colors though... I picked out for the rooms, very happy with choices. Living room, dark green (turtle), one wall, a light green (rejuvenate) for x bedroom and a butternut (chamois) for bathrooms (2). Antique white for trims. The high ceilings and the other brighter rooms it will be fine. So now I am off to the studio to drop off my stuff there and go to the market for stocking up groceries. Will post photos soon. Took pics at the lighthouse in Jamestown today, our favorite ocean spot. It is just to cold here in RI 26 degrees farenheit today, now it is 43.

Bamboo Winds
watercolor 22 x 30

Arriving back home Friday evening
Ok, I really don't want to go back to reality. But, I have 13 new friends I have met here too from all over the world. It has been a very productive trip, learned about blogs and the creative journey of writing in this online journal daily for a month, which I always wanted to do. I got to know my camera better, today I found out the flash has different levels of light I can control, but still I am baffled on night time shooting and the speed of shutter adjustments with this digital camera. Dowloading and filing photos. Composing photos, without this computer I woud not have been so productive. Viewing my images instantly for reference for my different "series" of paintings. The Boatman, Bananas, Landscapes, Bamboo, Architecture, Orchids, Coffee Beans, Trees, Sarongs. I have enough reference today from Costa Rica to last a lifetime, but I will be back and hopefully not alone. I would love to share this magnificent scenery with my friends and family and students. I am working on another trip to come here with art travelers for same time next year Dec & Jan. The people are so gracious and kind here. The country is the most beautiful I have ever seen, so much for an artist for subject matter. I will look at things differently now even in my own little village, Wickford, RI.

Today 4 of us went to Orosi & Cartaga. We went to the hot springs and then we went to Lankaster Gardens where I have the most beautiful photos of the strangest looking orchids. The Orosi Valley was great, it was a bit cool and a really foggy day, perfect weather for soaking in the hot springs while the sounds of waterfalls and streams surround you. Sounds to good to be true. We had a nice little man for taxi driver who asked me for directions, that was a little scary, don't you think. I mean I have a great sense of direction, but please, I lost my patience with him. Anyway, I am packing now after a pleasant dinner with most of us at Finca Bonanza again, they had this huge spanish banquet table with 8 high back chairs. We all sat around. It was another grand night enjoying the atmosphere there and the company of people I have lived with for a month. mmmmm The four words again that descibe this wonderful opportunity for me would be, the spontaneity of creating, the discipline to paint/draw/photograph a piece or pieces of art everyday, to paint and draw and compose with passion and for even a short time, the freedom to do it all in. Thank you for reading my blog and sharing this month with me. I would love to show you the work I have accomplished here and hope you can enjoy Costa Rica's natural beauty someday soon for yourself, before it gets too popular. Para Vida!!!!

Coffee Plants, watercolors, 4 x 9

Miriam Hitchcock, mixed media
Today was about getting ready for our open studio for invited guests and friends. We had about 20-25 people & the resident dogs visiting our studios and then we had the writers read some of their passages. Miriam's collection of work was refreshing, humorous and illustrative, it describes her to a "T'. Susan's work was vibrant, colorful, very whimsical and her magical lyrics & song entranced us all in her fairyland casita. Allison is writing her memoirs and read an exert from her teen-years that was very funny and I could imagine the scenario all to well. Alice read from her textbook on how the arts affect the special needs of children with autism and other serious handicaps. That was such a great way to end our time here for a full cirlce, realizing the importance of art in everyones world. Royce, director here at colony read from his 4 year project of growing up with an emotional unstable mother, but on an intellectural, educated level after studying and working in the psychology field. I coulde his story as a full length movie, and that was just a short exert of his story. Piogiant!

Susan Szathmary, Acrylic

I went horseback riding again at the same place. Just three of us this time. A different trail, an hour was a good amount of time to be on a horse, my knee muscles hurt, though. It was a beautiful experience. The horses are so beautiful. The Costa Rican cowboys were getting the horses ready for a big parade in San Jose today. Hundreds of horses strutt there stuff, fancy stepping, dancing, must be an awesome site to see. Because I have only a couple days left here, time is precious. So I can not squeeze one more thing in these next days. The day(s) of course flew by. Picked up a couple things for lunches in Colon, walked up that damn hill again, (I will not miss carrying my groceries up that hill) Lorenzo came over to see me, Soizic kicked him out of their casita, she had a client meeting. He so graciously educated me about Vitamin B12 that I have been taking for boosting my metabolism. He writes about health issues, I think he owns some spa clubs, anyway it was a really nice visit, he is about 68 , from Rome and told me I need to do more breathing excersises, so that I can be in harmony. I will try to do these tasks daily to see if he is right. Sweet man. So, I did not think he would stay so long this afternoon, then time for the sunset at Vinca Bonanza again, we went for tea and paid our bill from last night, because none of us had colones to pay for our christmas dinner. They were so kind. Long story. Took a taxi back to colony, because the path to the restaurant that we found (is a secret), another long story) was too dark, I was ascared of snakes in the grass at night. And not to mention tipping over again. I have a reputation now, being clumsy. Working hard tonight to finish up two paintings for our "open studio night" tomorrow after our last supper, Alice & Allison doing readings, Susan & Miriam & I showing our masterpieces to the colony, Dina decided not to participate. We have invited some outside guests that we all have met this month. Hopefully Royce will read from his writings also. Macy (one of the dogs) brought Susan over to visit tonight, so we had a few chuckles, nice break from painting. We are all hiding in our casitas tonight finishing up for tomorrow night. I'll be up all night trying to decide how to present all I have done. Over 50 drawings and paintings, did not reach my goal of a hundred paintings, but I did get alot accomplished. I have taken over a thousand pictures and I feel like I still don't have enough, the landscapes here are gorgeous, and being on a bus both times going places I have not been able to take many landscape shots, so we are going to hire a taxi for Thursday morning to take us to Orosi a quaint village south of San Jose for a few hours and stop at all the Kodak moments along the way, Taxi driver and the girls have been forewarned. Thursday night taking Carlos out because he has been the "gem" at this place, helping each one of us see the Costa Rican ways of fun, hospitality and generousity. I leave Friday morning, be home after 8:00pm. Having trouble agaian uploading photos.

We were reflecting at our very special Christmas dinner about Saturday's candlelight service. A cast of characters. It was in English & Spanish, it was more tolerable in Spanish, Miriam sitting next to me at the service, said at one point "just picture him in his underwear" and then I couldn't stop laughing. You know the kind of laughing where it could've been out of control? We were captive there, and it was the most amusing night, singing carols. Another andidote was that Rainbow, in her late 70's, forgot to put her bottom teeth in before going out. There are "muchos mas" stories to tell. I have to practice my Spanish even writing it helps me, sorry, but this is my journal remember?

Feliz Navidad y paz to us and to you. It was such a pleasant morning of exchanging gifts, at breakfast. French toast, fruit, maple syrup. We made wishes for the coming year & some of the party goers are wishing their headaches would go away. I do miss home today. It is warm here about 78 degrees F. Some puffy clouds and feels like there might be a shower coming along. I hear thunder. I did laundry this morning and hung the clothes out on a line, they dried in about an hour. Smells great! The nights here smell like jasmine too. It is in the winds. Trying to catch up on blog this afternoon and do a bit of painting, then we will all go to dinner at Vinca Bonanza and watch sunset. Bonanza sounds like a really tacky place. huh? I have found a new drink, cold tea of Rosa de Jamaica, made from hibiscus flower petals, real red color mixed with a little juice, refreshing. The coffee is very smooth here too which I love and learning again what good coffee taste like.

Chantelle's fiesta was great too, around the pool, lots of great food, this merinque with strawberries and almond pie, was mucho deliciouso she said she would give me the recipe. I will blog it when I recieve it. Lisa gave us all friendship bracelets from her trip to Nicaragua last week, made by a family of ceramists there. She is working with "Potters for Peace". www.pottersforpeace.com Fireworks and a Columbian band, lots of dancing the Salsa, Merengue, y mucho mas. Dogs went loco with the fireworks. We all brought Chantelle a bit of food for table, stuffing, deviled eggs, egglant spread, pina coladas. I would have brought my famous focaccia, but could not find dough and didn't know how to ask for it in Spanish. (I should have brought my garlic press too) Painted all day long, made bookmarks for all the girls for gifts of friendship for christmas morning. Worked on large bamboo painting and started 4 collages 13 x 13 for each of the seasons using natural pieces found here in Costa Rica.

I am tracking Santa through a website my sister sent me. I hope he finds me.