Inn of the Wandering Dragon

Yesterday was spent in my little studio - for the first time in a long time! To say that it was wonderful, calming, de-stressing, cheering and rejuvenating really doesn't seem to cover it. I made some ATC's (artist trading cards), mainly collage and mixed media. I also started working on a larger pastel drawing which I can already see is going to take me a while to complete. It has been a long time since I really dug into the chalk pastels and I think I had forgotten what a process it is to really build up rich colours, either that or my sub-conscious decided I needed the exercise! Either way I am enjoying it immensely!

Mixed media ATC 2.5"x3.5"

Mixed media ATC 3.5"x2.5"

Recently we have been doing a lot of driving across the province, visiting family, local attractions and the Star Party in Cypress Hills. Long hours have been spent in the car or truck watching the prairie landscape speed by us. Contrary to some peoples opinion it's not actually that flat all the way through, nor is it that boring. I have heard others go on about how some other part of the country is just so much more beautiful than this part, so much more interesting, so much better. Personally I think they haven't taken a close enough look. And if there is one thing I have found in all my travels it is that every place has it's own beauty.
Watch the landscape closely as you go by. What you thought was just one big block of colour is actually made up of many colours. Various shades of gold, yellow ochre, russet, red, green and even smaller splashes yet of purple and blue. The colours themselves range from pale tints to vibrant rich hues. They shimmer and wave alongside each other like paint strokes in a giant impressionist painting.
There is another reason I enjoy the open spaces of the prairies - the vastness of it all. It is easy to forget in the city, where we are so focused on our day to day things and buildings crowd around us. Even in the forests and mountains we can only see so far (unless we are standing on a high peak!). But out in the prairies we can see just how wide that horizon really is. I imagine I can feel the muscles in my eyes stretching to accommodate, they are not used to looking such long distances anymore and it takes some adjustment.
It feels good to enjoy this physical reminder that the world really is a bigger place than it seems.

I'm just venting at the moment. Let's see, I told these guys that they made an error three months ago. They denied making the error, it was in my favor but whatever. Still, I knew there would be a day of reckoning so I made sure I was prepared for it.
Sure enough last week I get the call from the bank saying there was an error (I told yuo so!). So we worked out the best way to resolve the issue and - guess what? Instead of going with option A,
they chose to do options A AND B!
Now I'm short $500 and I'm not impressed. >:( I've left a long distance phone message for the lady I have been dealing with on the other end of the country and tomorrow this farce gets to be re-opened and dealt with again.
Sigh....

... and so little time! Suffice to say the past couple weeks have been busy - both at work and in my (spare?) time.I sat down to gather my thoughts and I litterally have a good dozen and more topics and half written entries in my head. I have taken to making a list so that I don't forget them and the theory is that I shall be able to slowly work my way through them. Of course the list will never shrink anymore than the fuzzball will ever cease to play with my pen and paper. But that's ok in my books. While some may question what I am or am not doing with my life, at least it's evidence that I am living my life!

Well, not quite but we did make the 2-3 hour drive to Wetaskawin yesterday to visit my grandmother. Some of the family were getting together to take her out for a birthday lunch. Larry and I just missed them but we hung around waiting for everybody to get back so we could visit. I do not often get to visit with my grandma so I was pretty upset about missing everybody. But it all worked out - and I now have my aunt's cell number in case we do this again!

Nothing feels quite so good after a long day in the sun (and shoes) than to find a lush & shady spot of grass. Take off your shoes and socks and let your toes stretch and wiggle in the cool greenery!

Last weekend my girlfriend and I made the 10 hr drive to Aldergrove, BC for our very first Ren Fest. I have to say overall that I had a really fun time and I greatly enjoyed the various performances. Sadly it was pretty obvious that there were various politics that were trying to interfere but I think the cast and crew worked very hard to overcome those issues. I think the organizers have come away from this event with some hard learned lessons which hopefully will help create an even better event next year.
As you can tell from the few pictures posted, a story line was woven into the day's activities in which the visiting nobility were essentially blackmailed by some pirates with a thirst for payback. Actors wandered the grounds in character carrying out parts of the story line and generally adding to the atmosphere. The fair itself was a small english village attempting to celebrate the accension of the new king (long live the king!). In addition there were vendors (yay shopping!), demonstrations of fencing and tilting, musicians, and even a few privateers showing off their boats and cannons. The end of the day concluded the story with a sing along at the Frog and Fiddle pub and everyone's fates revealed (for now).
It is safe to say that my girlfriend and I (and who knows who else?) will be attending next year's Ren Fest!