IT ONLY TOOK A YEAR ...

But now our home has a proper sign at the road. I would hate for Santa to miss us!

OH YES, IT HAS BEEN RAINING...

And nature has given us wonderful miniature artworks. These suddenly appeared between the railroad tie retaining wall.

This single fungus is tall; about 10 inches, and looks quite stately beside the tree.

PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE ...

A page from my sketchbook. I continue to practice this sketching and I am loving it! I would like to eventually be able to sit outside in a public place and sketch something unique. In truth, I would like to sit in a piazza in Italy......

CRANBERRY-APRICOT QUICK BREAD ...

It is raining again today, and I really don't mind it at all. But the rain and the cool temperature and the sight of colored leaves constantly floating down past the windows will always drive me into the kitchen. It is that time of year; the time when something inside tells me to bake. Here is a new recipe for you. Enjoy! Cranberry - Apricot Quick Bread 1/2 cup butter 3/4 cup sugar 2 eggs 3 cups flour 1 tablespoon baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1 cup orange juice 1 teaspoon grated orange rind 1 cup course chopped cranberries 1/2 cup chopped dried apricots 1/2 cup chopped walnuts Beat butter and sugar together and then add eggs. Mix well. Add combined dry ingredients alternately with the juice, mixing well after each addition. Stir in cranberries, apricots and nuts. Pour into greased and floured 9 X 5 inch loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 75 minutes. Cool 5 minutes and remove from pan. I used two smaller pans instead and shortened the baking time by about 8 minutes. One loaf in the freezer and one to eat now. It is delish!

A FAREWELL EVENING AT SNOW FARM...

On Friday evening we gathered in the large common building for a cocktail hour, followed by a fabulous gourmet dinner and a gallery viewing and auction of art pieces. Instructors as well as students donated items they had produced during the week to an auction to benefit Snow Farm. The proceeds are designated for student scholarships as well as needed equipment for the various studios (like new welding helmets). The auction this year raised $2, 391.00. Here are some photographs of the evening. It was a chance to say good-bye to new friends, and to exchange e-mail addresses. There is no doubt we are planning to return to Snow Farm. (we will take our own pillows next time though....)

THE 36TH ANNUAL "OCTOBER EVENINGS" JURIED EXHIBIT....

Last night was the opening of this event and Roy and I went in our "fancy pants" clothes to see art, drink wine and eat tiny tasty things. I was so fortunate to have one of my pieces juried in, "Abigail". You can see her below.

The gallery is small and there were about 100 people there so it was quite crowded. I tried to get photographs of the art but it was difficult! There were 36 pieces selected and I have to say I had no idea how many different mediums there were. In fact, There are some I have never heard of. For example, "reductive relief". Or, "type C print". I guess I better do my homework, huh.

This Terra Cotta sculpture was particularly nice, In fact, I noticed a red dot (sale) on the card. Notice the gallon glass jar with stuff in it? It is an interactive piece where the viewer is instructed to pick it up and turn it around and over to redistribute the contents. OK....it was fun, but it was also listed for sale at $500.

There were seven prizes, each one a check for $200 donated by the arts council as well as local businesses. It is gratifying and encouraging to see businesses getting involved with the arts.

Here is a photograph of "Abigail" and you can also see Roy in the background, inspecting a beautiful and fabulously made chair that was one of the prize winners. It really looked like a museum piece!

After the opening we went to our favorite Italian restaurant for coffee and dessert. What a fun evening!

A BONFIRE, CHESTNUTS AND THE MOON....

Toward the end of our week at Snow Farm , Mark the wood working instructor initiated a bonfire event. He collected the firewood (there is some logic there, right?) and had a huge stack ready for flame as we all gathered on the benches to watch. How do you ignite a bonfire at Snow Farm? Ha! Easy! Mark went into the glass blowing studio, picked out a long hollow pipe with a big red-orange glob of molten glass on the end, brought it out to the pile of wood and walked around it , touching the glass to the wood, which ignited immediately. After several parts were burning well, he returned the glass and pipe to the studio. It looked like a giant match! On her way to the bonfire, one of the ladies who was in the welding class had picked up a large handful of chestnuts that had fallen from trees near the dormitories. She suggested we try to roast them. But, what to use for a pan? The light bulb went on over her head, she said she would be right back and went off to the welding studio. In a matter of minutes she was back with a fabulous chestnut roasting pan! She selected an old wok from their scrap pile, welded a long metal handle on it, and then attached a wood handle to the metal one. She put it in the fire to clean it off and get it very hot, then popped in the chestnuts. They roasted quickly and as soon as the skins began to split she dumped them in bowls and passed them around. My very first "chestnut roasted on an open fire" ! I didn't get a photograph of the bonfire and the group but did catch this shot on the way back to the dorm. It was a beautiful evening.......

OUR ACCOMODATIONS AT SNOW FARM.....

The four dorm buildings were labeled L. I. F. and E. We were assigned to room A in building E, and this was the sign on our door (with apologies to all Canadians)!

The dorm had two bathrooms, male and female. I love this sign! Our bathroom had two shower stalls, two toilet stalls, and a counter with three sinks. There never seemed to be a crowd and it all work quite smoothly.

This was our bedroom, sparse but everything needed was close at hand.

This was our "dresser".......

...and this was our closet.

It is amazing how little you need to be comfortable.....