The Marmelade Gypsy: Postcards from the Lake: A Quick Catch-up
I'm enjoying my blog break at art camp and am popping in with a bit of a post to update you on things, before I disappear again. And I also ...| themarmeladegypsy.blogspot.com
Given that it's summer, I probably should have gone through more than six books -- but I was doing a lot of painting! Still, the ones I read were very enjoyable. Again, mostly mysteries, but two good novels were part of the mix, too. | The Marmelade Gypsy
Art camp usually brings warm sunny days and it certainly started out that way. Painting on the porch was a joy -- the sounds of the lake punctuating our foray into color, pattern and image.| The Marmelade Gypsy
I'm enjoying my blog break at art camp and am popping in with a bit of a post to update you on things, before I disappear again. And I also ...| themarmeladegypsy.blogspot.com
Travel. Art. Family. Friends. Life.| themarmeladegypsy.blogspot.com
The morning after my ear procedure (thanks for the good wishes, too!), Rick and I headed to the lake to await the arrival of our guests later in the day. And arrive they did, with ten times the energy I had! One seven year old, one eight year old, and their lovely mom! | The Marmelade Gypsy
It has been quite a week! The day after Rick's baseball birthday gig, I took off for the lake solo, to spend a few days in the north before my ear procedure. It is, as always, lovely -- but also very smoky and hazy from the Canadian wildfires. It was a little hard on the eyes, the sinuses and the lungs with air quality falling well into the high yellow and sometimes red zone. We had our share of foggy mornings, too. | The Marmelade Gypsy
Gee, I love a good summer for catching up on reading! At the lake there are fewer distractions and for whatever reason, I don't feel overly ...| themarmeladegypsy.blogspot.com
In an earlier post I mentioned that one thing Rick really wanted to do while in England was explore a bit more of his family history. That i...| themarmeladegypsy.blogspot.com
I can't say coming home for a few days was great -- it was beastly hot for much of the time (like so many other spots here in the US) and without air, I relied on fans in the evening, the car for quick air-con cool downs and ice beanbags to take to bed. Fortunately, a rain came through with a bit of a cool down -- relief at last! Rick stayed at the lake, cycling home just in time for some fun. But a broken bike had me on stand-by for a pick-up, just in case the repair made didn't hold. | The Marmelade Gypsy
Our days have been relatively temperate this summer. Sunny, warm (on occasion stifling hot after a few dances with the heat dome sweeping the country) and for the most part, lovely. We've seen a lot of haze from the Canadian wildfires so the sky hasn't been terribly blue and we've had a couple of rain storms but overall, a good time to be north. | The Marmelade Gypsy
Rick has not been looking forward to turning 70. I can relate -- I remember feeling somewhat the same. What is it about those zero (and to a...| themarmeladegypsy.blogspot.com
Every day in summer is a gift -- at least, it is for me. It's my favorite season -- or rather, it is when I'm at the lake. Apart from a couple of rainy days, the weather has been lovely. Warm, but for the most part, not too hot. Sunny, but even the cloudy days are comfortable. | The Marmelade Gypsy
Our road trip continued as we left Strings by Mail and headed to the Leelanau peninsula, which juts out from Traverse City and is bordered ...| themarmeladegypsy.blogspot.com
What looked to be a rainy day at the lake turned out to be a beautiful one when we did a road trip to Traverse City and later to the Leelanau peninsula. This post is about our first stop to Strings by Mail, an international mail order business in Traverse City for what has to be the largest collection of strings for all kinds of instruments including (not surprisingly) the classical guitar! Naturally, Rick had to stop!| The Marmelade Gypsy
If all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, does mostly play and not much work make Jack (or Jeanie) more interesting? Or just mellow? Or just plain happy?| The Marmelade Gypsy
Truth of the matter is, life at the lake isn't particularly exciting. There are rarely dramatic moments, major crises. It's just good. And v...| themarmeladegypsy.blogspot.com
Travel. Art. Family. Friends. Life.| themarmeladegypsy.blogspot.com
We have settled into the lake and kicked off the summer with house guests and a "grand" birthday celebration -- not to mention the July 4 ho...| themarmeladegypsy.blogspot.com
Travel. Art. Family. Friends. Life.| themarmeladegypsy.blogspot.com
We've finally arrived at the lake to stay for a bit (end of July; then I'll be back while Rick does a bike hike to Canada, down to New England). | The Marmelade Gypsy
June wasn't a bad reading month. (When it's really hot, that's about all you can get the energy to do!) Again, mysteries took center stage, but I also managed to include some fiction and a series of somewhat twisted short stories that I found oddly delightful. (Don't judge me.) | The Marmelade Gypsy
Those last days before heading north for the summer are always busy ones. This year, they were also the hottest days of the year and it sure wasn't fun doing much but reading and essentials! My life included doc appointments, lots of reading, catching up on blogs, seeing a friend's play, popping corks with Cork Poppers and time with other friends, too. In the morning I would water plants and pull some weeds, bemoaning my strawberry crop.| The Marmelade Gypsy
It was the hottest day of the year (to date!) -- and a perfect time for Cork Poppers to check out some wines to enjoy in the summer!| The Marmelade Gypsy
Well, I finally made it to the cottage. As you may remember, Rick came up in May and oversaw work on the ice storm damage and installation of a more reliable electrical system. He was without power and water for about six days! But now we have it and I am back.| The Marmelade Gypsy
For the past few years, I've taken part in an online series of art workshops called Sketchbook Revival. A variety of artists covering watercolor, mixed media, drawing, journaling and more do free online workshops. The event ran over two weeks in June. (This post is heavy on the art, so be prepared!) | The Marmelade Gypsy
There were always five or six of us in the car as we drove through Michigan's frigid upper peninsula in the depths of winter, astounded by the banks of snow piled high on the side of the road, far taller than our car. We were crammed onto the bench seats of the vehicle, often singing, always laughing, as we passed through tiny villages en route to public schools in towns only slightly larger than the ones we had passed through. (For the younger readers of this blog, there was a time not all t...| The Marmelade Gypsy
On June 14, between millions of people across the United States participated in what was called the "No Kings" rallies, expressing their displeasure in how the government, specifically by President Trump and his cronies in the cabinet and Congress, was being run. Sources vary between five and twelve million with "over five million US" being the most reported, but there were international demonstrations in 20 countries as well. (Personally, I think the event was badly named. Kings aren't nec...| The Marmelade Gypsy
With trees that had fallen during the tornado finally removed, I was able to walk around the ditch, eager to check out the storm damage. It really took quite a hit, being the most westerly part of our neighborhood and the first to bear the brunt of the winds. I was pleased to see a good deal of progress had been made. Many of the fence slats (some already weather-worn) had fallen apart. They've repaired most of them. It will take some time for them to achieve the weathered patina of their ...| The Marmelade Gypsy
Many of you know that it is no secret that irises are one of my favorite spring flowers (and I have many favorites!). They are showy, lovely, colorful.| The Marmelade Gypsy
It finally feels as though spring has arrived here in Michigan. That doesn't mean it won't be cold, but not as cold or gloomy as it has been...| themarmeladegypsy.blogspot.com
Travel. Art. Family. Friends. Life.| themarmeladegypsy.blogspot.com
First, I want to thank everyone who has hung in here with my many posts on our England trip. I've loved your comments and hope I have answer...| themarmeladegypsy.blogspot.com
We left the lake knowing we had a quick, two-day turnaround at home before leaving for a memorial celebration of life in Minneapolis. Rick w...| themarmeladegypsy.blogspot.com
So, what do you plan when a six and a seven-year-old (along with their beautiful mom) descend on you? Well, when you're at the lake, there a...| themarmeladegypsy.blogspot.com
It completely freaks me out that Easter is almost here! Two dear friends birthdays passed me by and I realized that today is officially spri...| themarmeladegypsy.blogspot.com
