Mental Health Day

Judy is my friend-for-all-seasons, meaning that we try to get together at least once every season to do something fun and catch up with each other.  Today was our day, and it was so necessary AND so wonderful!

First we went to the Garfield Park Conservatory in Chicago.  If you live in the area and haven't been there, it's a great resource for beauty, peace, tranquility, color . . .  Here's some pictures I took today.  I haven't processed them in Photoshop at all yet.  I was too excited to show off the lovely blooms.

 These are glass sculptures done by Dale Chihuly and they are gorgeous.  They seem to glow!

 These are called Angel Trumpets.  They were hanging from a tree and were huge!

The conservatory was damaged by hail a few months ago, so not all the rooms were open.  But we had a great time meandering through one room after another -- each more breathtaking and awe-inspiring than the last.
 Then we headed over to Inspiration Kitchens for lunch.  Check out their web site and, if possible, consider dining there.  The food was amazing and -- from their brochure:  "The 80-seat restaurant serves healthy and affordable American cuisine . . . in a family-friendly atmosphere. . . it is a site for inspiration Corporation's award-winning food service training program, which has helped more than 450 homeless and low income men and women gain the skills and experience to succeed . . ."  It was clean, upbeat, affordable, and my mushroom flatbread with roasted shallots and gruyere was fantastic.  And don't get me started about their basil infused lemonade!

Calendar Page Love

Two lovely March calendar pages to show you.  The first is from the calendar produced by our Calligraphy study group.  March's page was created by the talented Luce Zolna.  Such beautiful details make for a lovely page.

The second calendar was done by Pam Johnson Brickell, who regularly blogs here.  She lives in South Carolina, where the blossoms are ahead of us here in Illinois.  Our redbuds won't be blooming for at least a month.  But I'm so glad I have a reminder of them in this colorful page.

Happy (almost) spring!

Ten Truths About Me

Once again I'm a little behind in Kim Klassen's Beyond Layers class.  A week ago Kim encouraged us to think about ten things that we would like to share about ourselves.  And then to find a picture that might summarize who we are.  Here's the picture I chose, because I think if I were a flower, I would be a sunflower.  (See #1 below)

1)    I’m solar powered – I LOVE sunny days, but cloudy days exhaust me.

2)   I could easily become a vegetarian, but don’t ever try to make me give up chocolate or potato chips.

3)   The best part of my life has always been (and continues to be) – being a mom.

4)   I work best when there is music playing in the background.  Most any kind will do.

5)   The local library is one of my favorite places.  So many great resources!

6)   Three years ago my husband and I went to Italy for ten days.  I learned Italian (from library cds of course) so I could communicate.  I really, really, really want to go back!

7)   I never want to stop learning.  E-courses, workshops and conferences are so energizing and exciting

8)   One of the best things about morning is having a hot cup of coffee (brewed by my kind husband) with flavored creamer and sitting in my studio with my journal and an inspiring book.

9)   I LOVE to walk outside, sometimes with my camera, most of the time with our dog Skyler.

10)    I wish I lived closer to the ocean.  I don’t think I could ever tire of the sound of the waves.