I thought it appropriate to begin with a selfie alongside the more youthful lady that is featured on this 2023 poster and gallery book of exhibits. Not to compare myself with this beauty but to remind myself that I likely was this youthful when I started coming to Watercolor USA in 1978. I may have had 'flowers in my hair' about that time too! This is the 62nd annual exhibit in Springfield, Missouri.
I have included some of my favorites here. The final one I show is called "Layers" by Irene Roman. I voted it as my favorite choice. The winner of the people's choice will be determined when the exhibit closes September 3, 2023.
It was to my surprise that the subject of the "Slow Viewing Program" we registered for on July 19th featured my favorite "Layers" watercolor! It was so fun and interesting with a dozen or so other people expressing themselves. This was my first time for this kind of event and I was happy I went!
"Slow Viewing is a supportive practice for anyone who wants to develop their skills of interpretation, observation, and discussing art. Guests spend an hour carefully observing and speaking about the works on view, resulting in a deeper understanding of how they and others relate to the artwork and to each other."
Song of Hope by Bev Jozwiak
Bomb Pop Stop by Alicia Farris
Time Passages by Thomas Sorrell
Basking by Ann Pember
Pink Day @ the Office by Lana Privitera
Alfredo & Winder by Scott Ponemone
Layers by Irena Roman
Layers by Irena Roman
Layers by Irena Roman was the watercolor I liked best and voted as the best for the People's Award to be determined at the end of this exhibit in September. I studied it for most of the time we were in the gallery and enjoyed how it kept revealing to me; like layers. I learned later at the Slow Viewing Program in July that the quote in the middle was from Emily Dickinson, "I am nobody. Who are you? Are you nobody too?" It sets an ironic tone that combines lightness with self-negation. Other thoughts about the overall subject include a sense of sisterhood over many years, possibly generational. Then there are layers upon layers of changes that are pealed back to see who they were at one time but are fading away with age. Probably all dead now but the viewer is left with a sense of joy that they did live and love. What do you see?
When my gardens are planted and waiting for rain, I begin bicycling the Katy Trail as I have every year since 1994. I have wrote extensively about my bike rides in this blog over the years and continue with new adventures again beginning in June and go until October or November. In recent years, I concentrate mostly on the exercise and the joy it brings me to stop and smell the wildflowers, chase butterflies, and just experience the outdoors. It doesn't much matter how many miles I do on a ride or how often anymore. Been there and done that! Just search my blog with "Katy Trail" in the upper right margin and you will see what I wrote about when I averaged 700-1400 miles per year. Of course, this blog was begun in 2011 and most of my adventures were in the 1990s and 2000s. I really need to digitize those photos and write about those times. I likely will when I slow down more!
This summers' bike rides include the Katy Trail between Clinton & Windsor & return, the Spur off Windsor for a couple hours then return, and then Sedalia to Green Ridge and return. I will ride from Sedalia all the way to the Missouri Rive at Booneville (maybe to Hartsvlle or Jefferson City!) by the end of the 2023 season. I did ride north of Windsor again in August as it was the time for wild plums and elsedrberries to ripen and I know a spot or two! Wild plums make the best jelly! Elderberies dry well for a healthy tea. The best place was between Winsor and the High Point at Bryson.
Dried the elderberries when I got home that afternoon and made the wild plum jam the next morning!
High Point of the 240' long Katy Trail at Bryson (955' above sea level) where I turn around and go back to Windsor.
Lunch time at the High Point at Bryson. I will fill the bags completely on the way back as this is my turn around point.
Wild Plums
Sedalia Depot
Sedalia Depot with a new, bright pink tee shirt that spells out Katy Trail in bicycles! They have the very best shop there and I always find something new each year.
Trumpet Vines
Katy Trail Bridge over Highway 65 in Sedalia
Prairie Dock
State Fairgrounds in Sedalia
Button Bush
Residential Yards along the Katy Trail in Sedalia
Residential Yards along the Katy Trail in Sedalia have some interesting yard ornaments and amazing landscapes!
Yellow Coneflowers
Tall Bellflower
Wild Bergamot
Wild Petunia
Wild Bergamot with Bumblebee
Rest Stop for Lunch at Green Ridge
Green Ridge was a good turn around location at the trailhead.
Sedalia Fairgrounds
Information Board at the Trailhead
The Sedalia Depot is always a good place to start, finish, and just hang out with nice restrooms, great parking, good store and museum.
Sedalia Trailhead Selfie
Entrance to Sedalia Depot from car that shows good parking and grounds.
Soapwort smells wonderful!
Wild Black Raspberries
Windsor Trailhead Selfie
Lots of hiking close to home mostly includes the Pomme de Terre River Trail about five miles from my home in Hermitage. The 3-mile trail is a regular hike in the Outlet Park below the Pomme de Terre Dam. We are very fortunate to have such a well maintained trail and park so close to home and enjoy it with my husband and our granddaughter often.
My next favorite and frequent place to hike is Ha Ha Tonka State Park in Camden County; about 30 minutes away. We have been coming here since it was bought by the State of Missouri in 1978, the year we moved to Missouri. We have seen many changes and improvements for its public use in all these years. The castle ruins draw the crowds and I like it best during the week when there are less people. There are many trails but I frequent the short, paved walk to the castle ruins from the parking lot and the hike to the Spring from a lower parking lot. Where the Spring Trail ends are about 300 steps upward that leads to the castle ruins. This is my favorite and I like it best in the winter when the temps are warm enough and the leaves are down from all the trees so you can see for miles and miles. Also, there are less people!
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