Les Jardins Majorelle

While in Morocco last August, we visited the Majorelle Gardens in Marrakech. I managed a quick sketch in my journal inspired by the wonderful colors I saw there.

Their cactus collection was a sight to see.

A wonderful summer memory to cheer up a cool, cloudy day.

Preparing for Winter

Autumn activities include roof painting. In Tunisia, a country with a warm climate, houses have high ceilings and flat roofs, which require maintenance every several years.

The "before" state of my roof. Hmmm, looking rather distressed. Shabby is not always chic.










<--And the brilliant "after."

Whew! Finished just as clouds blew in.












A family member's roof got treatment as well:

Man, am I glad that job is done so I don't have to worry about a leaky roof this winter! 

A Busy August

In August, we took one of my granddaughters to Morocco. 
My collection of airport sketches continues to grow. 










The trip started with a bang!--when the baggage conveyor belt ran into the bottom of the airplane. The damage was sufficient to oblige passengers to get off the plane and wait 6 hours for another plane.









We finally made it to Agadir (on the Atlantic).













The gardens of Marrakech were stunning, especially considering the city is in the middle of a desert.









Fountains take center stage--the magic of water.








































The Bahia Palace has wonderful tile work, interior gardens, and fountains. 

It was an enjoyable and memorable trip...

Maaaaaaaaa!

I could hear her panicked screech out in "the back 40." Back in my work room, I found her poking her finger through a hole in her favorite jeans.









"You gotta add another patch! I LUV these jeans!"

Now, I know holes in jeans are in style, but, this was an embarrassing hole. So I dug out the necessary fabric and stitched a simple patch.

Mission accomplished--jeans saved...until the next hole.

A Scorching July

Despite scorching temperatures in July, interesting things happened. I continued with Joanne Sharpe's online class, which resulted in cheerful mantra pages.

I managed to keep track of time.

For a cultural evening, I attended Verdi's Aïda at the Roman theater in Carthage. So I did blind sketches in the dark. 








Unfortunately, it was a poor performance.



We left at the intermission (first time I've ever done that!).



I went South to Djerba for a week with family members. 
Despite the heat (50° C.= 122°F.), it was an enjoyable vacation. Nice hotel, beautiful beach with a warm Mediterranean.



I enjoyed sketching the well-kept, beautiful camels and horses for tourists on the beach.

Camels fascinate me--they're so full of personality and have such interesting faces.


















Thanks to the heat, I managed to do some stitching in my fabric journal as well. Basically, I was glued to the AC while just moving my fingers...

June Zoomed By, Too

"Follow Your Bliss"

June's mantra pages were fun to do. 



As usual, my sketching was quick, but enjoyable to do.





We spent several days with the grandkids in Nabeul at the beach and visited ceramic shops. The many Russian tourists couldn't get enough sun and were mostly lobster red.

I am in love with my garden terrace. We have finally gotten the overhead jasmine and grape "ceiling" growing in the right direction and creating lots of shade...besides giving us some excellent organic grapes.

It's magic!

Then May Zoomed By

Looking back, May was such a pleasant month, with very pleasant temperatures.

I played around with watercolors in Joanne Sharpe's online class.









I managed to keep track of time...








and do some quick sketching.











I haven't shown my garden for awhile. 
I found an interesting branch that turned into the first of a wood folks series.


I gave him/her (?) a pink hat to go with the geraniums.

I regrouped some of my mosaic pots and replanted a couple of them.

Indeed, a pleasant month...

April Zoomed By...

My day job consumes my day, and I instantly fall asleep with needle in hand in the evening...sigh...

However, art and creativity still structure my world. I added a frame with a quotation to a painting of my gate in my journal.







I attached the frame at the top of the page.
































We took a short trip to Beja and Tabarka in northern Tunisia at the beginning of April. 



Everything was Spring green.

I felt like I was in another country. We sat in on an academic conference while there. Lovely trip.

And so, April zoomed by...