July Fun in Oregon!

Let's start out with the 4th of July.

Happy Independence Day (242 yrs) to the United States of America. 

We celebrated with that all American meal Hamburger, fries and Chocolate Shakes at 5 Guys. 

Then finished it off with a flat tire. 

Due to rain and Darryl's early wake up time we heard quite a few fireworks, but didn't see any. 

I did work on a painting in the evening. 

Thursday evening July 5th we went to the temple with our friends. When we came out the spires looked like they were lighted from within with the sun hitting them just right.

I worked on a couple of little paintings of lavender Friday.

Saturday July 7th I went to a Watercolor Painting Boot Camp.

 8 hours of instruction tips and painting exercises in blending, mixing, glazing and learning how to paint people in an abstract form... so much to do and take in.

We did a vertical color wash then turned it horizontal to create a landscape. 

Not my best painting, but there was so much I learned doing it.

💖💖

Sunday the 8th was bittersweet as we said goodbye to many of our good friends at church. 

I will miss these folks terribly. Hal and Barbara Hovorka. What a joy it has been to get to know them and to call them our friends.

When I grow up I want to be like Barbara. She is 85 and Hal is 90 and they are constantly on the go!

💖💖

Tuesday the 10th was another watercolor class. My instructor decided to give me some homework after this class.

I warmed up practicing on some more flowers

He gave me a photograph and his painting of this old truck and asked me to do my own painting.

Friday morning I decided to try another painting. I attempted to replicate my elephant painting that I did back in February.

Friday night was our last night at the auction. Darryl made quite the find when he bought this box of old books for $45.00.

This 1st edition Nancy Drew is why he bought the box. 

The other books ...

..a complete Bookhouse Set, available online for over $200 dollars, the Jane Austen set, and the Louisa May Alcott books published in 1929, are just a great bonus!

I also made two pies this week. A strawberry rhubarb pie with fresh rhubarb Barbara gave me, and I went blueberry picking this week so I could make another blueberry pie. 

There's still more fun to come!