WHAT'S GOIN' ON?

Well, we're finally back from yet another amazing adventure at Lucky Star Art Camp. Actually, we got back Sunday, but it always takes a couple of days for one's feet to settle back down to earth. Middle sister Kathy and daughter Alexis both went with me this year, which made it even more special. The event is always held at Camp Waldemar in Hunt, TX, which is about 2 1/2 hours from here on the western edge of the Texas Hill Country, and it would be next to impossible to find a place more beautiful! We had all three signed up for "glee club" with Austin singer/songwriter Mandy Rowden in advance, so on the way there we practiced our lyrics. Which is why the Four Non-Blondes' song What's Up? will forever be stuck in our brains! After checking in and getting settled into our darling room, we had a fabulous dinner (one of the main reasons we all keep coming back!), then went to the lodge to hear our keynote speaker, Amy Hale Auker, an amazing cowgirl poet. Then it was out to the fire pit for our nightly sing-along with Mandy.

The next day I was in an all day class with artist Tori Weyers of Draw Riot, where we made a set of "vision cards". Not sure I will ever be able to take a reading from the ones I made, but I did discover something pretty amazing -- that if I listen to non-sing-along-songs, like Pink Floyd and such, while I paint, it's much easier to silence my inner critic and just "let go, and let it flow!" Who knew?

After class I met up with Lex and Kathy for glee club practice. Then, after we'd finished eating our yummy dinner, they had a surprise for us. They asked us to leave the dining hall for 15 minutes, and when we came back they had it set up for a giant Bunco game -- the perfect way to mix us up and get us to talking to lots of different people in a short period of time. I hadn't played in about 20 years, but it came back to me in a jiff. I thought I was a sure shoo-in for the booby prize, winning only two hands all evening. But, wouldn't you know, my sister had to beat me out of my prize by winning only one! Can you believe I lost out on this?

Unicorn Jammies!

The next day I took two 1/2-day classes. In the morning it was Folded Pen Lettering with Roxanne Glaser... aka Super Doodle Girl, where we actually made our own pens!

Then, that afternoon, Lex and I got to take a class together -- Goddess Gardens -- with architect-interior designer-gardener-ranch retreat hostess Kate O'Brien. She had all kinds of funky containers for us to choose from, then we just went to town with gravel, cactus soil, and succulents, adding in a few personal things we brought from home, and each ending up with something totally unique.

It turned frigid that day, and we were out in the pottery shed!

Lexi's Masterpiece

My Little Jewel

Then there was more glee club practicing, more delicious food, and more time around the campfire.

It was a very good day!

(to be continued)...