Pretty Plano Wedding

A couple of weeks ago we returned to Texas for the celebration of Kat and Adam's wedding.

They were appropriately beautiful and  handsome.

The Father of the Groom was appropriately nervous, goofy and loving.

The Groom and his Mother were charming.

This is the first wedding in a long time in which I didn't have an official role.  (Which was appreciated.)  I know that lots of couples don't endure, but I am hopeful for these two.  I like to imagine that they will look into their futures together; not overly in need of sameness or closeness, but being cooperative, supportive and enthusiastic about their individual and collective endeavors.

Dad hammed it up before the toasts.

The best thing about wedding cupcakes is that there is a variety of choices.  YUM.

The winds across the plains made the lanterns dance.

Not even the old folks rocked in the rockers, although the view was beautiful.

BBQ!!!!!

Got to see "old" friends as well as meet some of the participants' "old friends" who became new friends.

Partying after the rehearsal. Listening to bridesmaids' and groomsmen's toasts, boasts and stories.

Mother of the Bride. 

Simply beautiful flowers at the reception.  The wind was flowing the bottles off the tables, so eventually they ended up tucked into nooks and crannies all over the premises... which made a sort of scavenger hunt of charm.

There's always at least one goofy groomsman!

Woodstock Gallery, Vermont, a photo by Sultry on Flickr.

I love this gallery in Woodstock, Vermont. The art is wonderful, their attitude is uplifting.. now if they just had coffee and comfortable chairs...

(If you click on the photo, you can see about 30 paintings or other art works that they had when we visited in October 2011. I'm buying lotto tickets to use on art!)

Cuppa at Paul's Diner, a photo by Sultry on Flickr.

Paul's Diner was one of the nicest stops we had. After a frustrating run around with the pharmacist (we were away from home, after all) we asked for a good local breakfast place. The Cashier recommended Paul's Diner. It reminded us of our favorite breakfast place at home. Bottomless cups of coffee, huge omelet (with a waffle instead of toast) and experienced waitresses who treated you like family.

At a central intersection is a friendly gallery called Art on Main. Fortunately they were open Sunday afternoon and I got to chat with one of the artists (Susan Lyall Haley) and look at the paintings.

Behind the gallery was an overgrown garden... but with this wonderful terracotta dog, urn and benignly neglected flowery foliage.

Around the corner from Art on Main was a cul de sac with several wonderful big houses. This one looks like it might be pretty old. I would love to have a porch like that! During last months freak snow storm, I bet it needed more than one generator.

It is nice to be back home...
even if I have 900+ pictures to crop, tag and sort... and paint from!
The fall colors were inspiring. The Grandbaby's first birthday party was a roaring success. And Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont haven't yet run out of surprises.
There were pumpkin and apple stands everywhere. And corn mazes. We didn't try any of those, so we didn't have to call 911 to get rescued like one families in Danvers, Massachusetts did.
The Topsfield fair had SHEEP! and Cannolis! and Fudge!
This Duck is made from found objects. The artist is Leo Sewell
The Judester is almost walking. She was a little off balance because the Sunday afternoon routine was SO different than usual. Two grand pops, three grand moms, two aunts, an uncle, two cousins and LOTS of babies, presents and people to watch.
My favorite rooster at Topsfield.

Retirement allows for a Brief Trip!!
We took a few days to come to San Antonio... (Lots more photos and images when I get back to my camera cable and computer). Today's adventure was the McNay. What a fun art collection and story of a woman ahead of her time... Only child born at the turn of the last century who studied art in Chicago, taught art, became a painter... married a much younger man who tragically died after being called up in WWI... from the Spanish Influenza. Along the way, oil was discovered on her father's property (inheritance!!), and she remarried... several times. Eventually she returned to painting, and got to know other painters and collectors.

At present they are having a special exhibit called New Image Sculpture.
They didn't allow photos, but I found some on line ones to share...



Margarita Cabrera: Arbol de la Vida
This is an actually John Deere tractor covered (I think) with clay and clay birds and butterflies. It's pretty and pink.













Sandy Skoglund: Cocktail Party



Made of resin covered CHEESE DOODLES!
She was born in Weymouth MA, attended Smith College, and has done lots of other neat food/environment/social commentary sculptures.

Jean Lowe also had pieces in the show. I loved how she satirizes therapists and therapy.
In the assemblage I saw there was a diploma-ish framed piece that had "Harvard" in large letters and "crew team" where the degree name should have been. She'd also made a huge fancy certificate that actually said "Reinstatement of Rescinded Driver's License."


In another area there were therapists notes (made of enamel on cardboard) that said things like:
"pt is bitter misanthrope.
works in human
relations"
and
"7th session w/ S_____
On and on about his mother!"
with sexy little doodles at the bottom of the page.

I also got to see original Picassos, Chagalls, J. Mitchell and some 15th century Netherlandish art that reminded me of my college studies.

I might have to buy the book! (on Amazon) and might also write a letter to the curator(s). Lots of work that seemed out of the ordinary, but not totally off the deep end.

In Full Bloom
Originally uploaded by Sultry

Today was a weird day.
At dawn, I reported to a pain management specialist (named Jerry Lewis, MD., who is really handsome) to get an epidural cortisone shot for my back pain. After a quick dose of "Jackson juice" I was unconscious, then conscious and a bit floaty.
While recovering from that, DS called to tell me he'd been in a car wreck with his pregnant wife. (He was making a left turn and a woman tried to pass him on the left, even though it meant she was in the path of opposing traffic.
DS and DDIL made it home in that car, called the auto repair shop and tried again to get to DS's parent's hotel... only to find out that her power steering was cutting in and out.
Her parents eventually made it back to IN from MA. DS and DGrandBaby went to hospital for observation rather than going to work. DS kept at auto repair shopS, AND turned in a winning goalie performance for his hockey team.

Their woes made me forget the whole in my back. Pain is less, though I haven't tried walking very far yet.

I AM GRATEFUL EVERYBODY IS WELL.

Be not emotionally attached...

PENCIL-ONLY arch
Originally uploaded by Sultry
We were excited to go to the Isabella Stewart Gardner home/museum. DD had read The Gardner Heist about the theft in 1990, and a trusted friend had told me how much she liked it.
I was embarassed and MAD to find out they don't allow pen and ink sketching. Since I had obediently checked my "bag," I was limited to the mini "golf" pencil they offered as consolation.
I was cranky with the wet-behind-the-ears "guard" who told me to put my pen away. Later, after calming down, he gave me the advice quoted on the page.
But it didn't help that he said the reasoning was that my pen might "explode." Really? Has anyone had a Lamy pen explode? The ladies at the information desk said the rule was to prevent the ink from splattering on the art. Considering you couldn't get within a foot of any canvas or drawing, it made me wonder what they knew about trajectories...

Vibrant and worn
Originally uploaded by Sultry

I'm back from Boston!
A week was long enough to be with children and without husband.
While I would gladly turn around and go back, I am ready to be home for a while.
I'll be writing and recording high and low-lights of the trip. Such as:

• Airline "surprises" when meant a 12 hour flight instead of a 4 hour one, and stopping at multiple terminals to collect my bags.
• 
  MFA with DS
• 
  Harvard Square with a Flickr friend
• 
  Getting Lost. Often.
• 
  Orleans art galleries on The Cape.
• 
  Ice and Dek Hockey games
• 
  Prime Rib Panini
• 
  A new yarn store

Plymouth River Park, Plymouth, MA

Newbury Street Galleries
Originally uploaded by Sultry

by Peter Brooke. o/c viewed at Naga Gallery

DO follow the links! Brooke is amazing. Newbury street is dotted with great galleries. In addition to Naga, I especially enjoyed The Chase Gallery where I enjoyed Cynthia Packard's figurative works and Wayne MacDonald's abstract landscapes. The Arden Gallery amused with R. Jackson's paintings with Koons like balloon figures although the young man guarding the gallery didn't deign to talk to us. The Copley Society had a bounty of Small Works on display. James Kubiatowicz, Ellen Granter, Ellen Rolli, Janis Sanders and Beatrice Dauge are on my newly expanded "watch list."

Bouchee Brasserie
Originally uploaded by Sultry
DarlingDaughter, her significant other and I had lunch at this trendy spot on Newbury Street. I must report that the baked raclette with sherry-poached pears, and the later chocolate souffle cake were heavenly. Oh and the "adult" coffee with Bailey's and Kahlua, too! Yum.

Ostrich chick, puffin, Kiwi with eggs
Originally uploaded by Sultry

We had a fabulous time exploring Harvard's Natural History museum. Lots more photos at flickr!! Next is a link to an article about the exhibit on Color in Nature.
http://harvardmagazine.com/2008/11/animals-speak-color.html

Mansfield Memorial
Originally uploaded by Sultry

Patriot Guard Riders lined up in honor of 21 year old Army Spc. Corey Shea. Flags all over town were at half mast most of the week. Mr. Shea had recently been home on leave, talked with high school students and impressed his friends with his new-found maturity.
http://www.patriotguard.org/Forums/tabid/61/postid/1020126/view/topic/Default.aspx
http://www.necn.com/Boston/New-England/2008/11/24/Mansfield-soldier-killed-in/1227568451.html

It was amazing to be in Plymouth at Thanksgiving. I hope the Pilgrims had warmer clothes than I did!
This little office was where you could book passage on fishing or whale watching expeditions. I don't think they had pirates OR lobsters in the vicinity.
The replica of the Mayflower was terrifyingly small, but graceful and elegant, too.

We discovered a wee bit of "Texas" on the main street of the village. It wasn't pot roast, but the pulled pork was amazing!

The Glass Museum in Sandwich had hundreds of examples of blown, etched, painted and pressed glass.



More photographs about this day by clicking on the Thanksgiving banner.