With camera in hand and a notebook at the ready, we explored Lake Tahoe in early June. How strange to see the snow-covered mountain tops soon after leaving the heat and humidity of Virginia. The lovely crystal clear lake forms an unforgettable scene. I learned from several people that it's not always so lovely. The lake can have high winds and waves that once fooled early explorers into thinking they had reached the ocean.
Our next summer trip was to Las Vegas. No, this was not a journey to visit the casinos or the shows, although I spent a lot of time parading among the slot machines to get to meeting rooms in the sprawling hotel. Instead, it was a trip to the Public Safety Writers conference where I appeared on several panels. I loved meeting with my publisher, Billie Johnson of Oak Tree Press, and other writers I knew or had wanted to see in person.
Between those two trips, I set up an artist show of my "Monti Just for Fun" loose little acrylic paintings of various glasses, bottles, and more in the Glen Allen Cultural Arts Center in Richmond, VA. These paintings feature the joyfulness of pattern and color and created a happy Slantwall display at the Center for the month of July.
In August we headed to Wisconsin where our daughter drove us over much of the eastern section of the state along Lake Michigan into the Upper Peninsula. There, at the tip of the land projection into Lake Superior, we learned a lot about the old copper mines that once brought great wealth into the area. We had dinner with Mary Ann Beckwith, one of my favorite artists, during a stay in Hancock. Later, we headed to Milwaukee for three days at the Pfister Hotel, visits to the art museum on the waterfront, and much more. Along the way, we discovered the Fonz statue by the river side, and I was happy to have my camera.
This sounds like the summer of the lakes! I'll be posting more about these trips as I find time.
Please visit Michael Di Gesu's blog and find the names of others participating in this blogfest.
On Saturday, September 24, I'll be in Williamsburg as one of the En Plein Air artists. This sounds like a fun event if only the rain will stay away.
14 comments:
You traveled more this summer than I have in years!
I traveled too much to keep up with all that I should. It was fun though!
Thanks for commenting, Alex.
How fun! And you squeezed in an art show in between. I'm not too far from Milwaukee and am totally going to hunt down that Fonzie statue next time I go there! Good luck at your upcoming event in Williamsburg.
Thanks, Nicki. I stumbled upon that statue quite by accident in what looked like a very unlikely place.
It's great to read about everyone's travels this past summer. :) Good luck at the Williamsburg event--I hope it doesn't rain on you!
Thanks, Golden Eagle. Weather here does not look promising. We'll see.
You are quite the jetsetter without even leaving the country! Sounds like quite a fun summer Monti!
Thanks, Chuck. Sometimes we get around.
I've driven past Las Vegas! Curious to what that big black pyramid is? ;)
♥.•*¨Elizabeth¨*•.♥
You're one busy lady, Monti. I wonder if you unpack your suitcase at all. I haven't done much in winter here, except writing and editing.
Every Savage Can Reproduce
Hi Monti .. love the visits you made and would love to see some of your works .. interesting how we can never get away from our creative side - wherever we are whatever we're doing .. something is tickling the brain - saying hey ho this could be interesting ..
Does sound very educative, interesting, happy and fun .. cheers Hilary
Wow, sounds like a great summer. And even though I've lived in WI my whole life, I don't think I've ever travelled up and down the whole length. Love the Fonzi statue!
We've been to Las Vegas in the summer. This year, we're going in November!
erica
You certainly did travel a lot this summer. How wonderful to meet your editor and those amazing artists and writers.
Thanks for sharing you summer with us Monti and I hope you had a sunny day today,
Elizabeth, that's the Luxor Hotel, quite an impressive sight in Las Vegas.
Enid, most of my trips got piled together during the summer. Now I won't go anywhere until baseball spring training next Feb. or March!
Thanks, Hilary. No, you just cannot turn it off!
Erica, it's a beautiful trip along that lake, but I think you need to go in the summer. November is a better time for Vegas, but people don't go outside there much anyway!
Michael, you're right. It was really a little too much during that time. Thanks for having the blogfest!
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