Rocky Mountain Wedding

Photo of Emerald Lake and Lodge from the Lodge's website

Our family is gearing up for Laura's and Adam's wedding which will take place on the shore of Emerald Lake (Yoho National Park, B.C.) August 5th. The Bride and Groom have opted for an intimate, private affair with just their parents and siblings attending; fourteen adult guests, plus little Avery.

Many family members will spend the night before as well as the night of the wedding at this first class mountain lodge ...
http://www.crmr.com/emerald-lake-lodge.php

Miss Avery has her dress; her Grandma and Aunt brought it home from Montreal. As Mother-of-the-Bride I am eager to see the necklace and earrings that Laura has created to match the outfit she herself selected for me the day before we returned from Quebec!

Meanwhile, parents-of-the-bride are in training for the Wedding Tennis Tournament which will be held in Canmore as part of the blow-out celebration at the newly weds home, August 7th!

Let the good times roll!

La Belle Province

July 2nd to 15th, 2010

In old town Montreal

With Laura and Adam getting married and moving to Libya, next month, mother and daughter acted on their desire to visit Quebec and long lost family. Aunt Loretta (my Mother's sister) was 16 when I was born. I was 14 when her daughter, Claudine, was born and when Laura was 14, Claudine's daughter, Ericka, was born. The last time I saw my cousins I was 21, Claudine 7, and her brother, Marc, 5. Our age spread and geographic distance have kept us apart ... until now!

Me and Laura with Aunt Loretta

We stayed with cousin Claudine and husband, Sebastien. The hospitality we were shown, the indulgence and love was more than anyone could have hoped for. Meet the family here:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=456632&id=715295437&l=68d186fcdf

Getting to know them, their children, cousin Marc and his sons were a fine addition to exploring Canada's most exotic city. The Jazz Festival was on and so was an unrelenting heat wave. For photos of our time in Montreal click here:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=456564&id=715295437&l=3d5c65fcff

We had a day trip to Saint-Sauveur, in the Laurentians ... photos here:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=457345&id=715295437&l=97f55ab911aura

Laura and I went to Quebec City where we stayed, for three nights, in a B&B in the old town. We endlessly walked that charming city and had our history lesson while we toured the St. Lawrence River on the M/V Louis Jolliet. See the Quebec City photo essay here:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=457354&id=715295437&l=0751a21ed6

Cousin Marc graciously offer to take us to Ottawa and what happened to that day was magical. In Toronto, in 1968 - 69, I shared an apartment with Terry Pletzer who introduced me to Bill. We lost track of one another for nearly 40 years finally meeting again in Canmore, in 2006. Terry and James live half way between Montreal and Ottawa just outside the village of Dunvegan where we stopped, presumably just for lunch. Since I hadn't found an dress for the upcoming wedding, Terry mentioned that the largest bridal boutique in eastern Ontario was not far from her delightful country home. The gals all went there while Marc visited a colleague in the area. Got my outfit and the next thing you know it's after 4pm with not enough time to go on to Ottawa!

Terry and me

I love this woman. She was an inspiration and a mentor to me when I was 20 and she 25. We are closing the gap between our visits and I hope that Bill and I will find ourselves visiting her and James, soon. To see photos of the afternoon with Terry click here:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=13623494&l=b2e629cd94&id=715295437

Canada Day

William Hamilton Allan built his homestead NE of Nanton, Alberta in May 1904. Today, his grandson, James Coutts, keeps this beautiful property, it's buildings and gardens with dedicated care. Jim is, among many things, a patron of the arts. He has given almost 200 works from his collections to The University of Lethbridge. Today, one of mine was purchased to join his donation.

I had the pleasure of joining Jim, mutual friends and his guest, Patrick Gossage, in a lovely luncheon.


Between courses we all stepped outside to sing Oh Canada accompanied by Annie Froese's husband, Herb, on his trumpet.

Afterwards, we toured the grounds and their secluded rest spots under and between the trees. We admired decomposing willow chairs, outdoor art, flowers and native grasses which make up the extensive gardens. Below we are in Jim's studio/guest house.

Open gates were very inviting and my senses were stimulated.

Quite a spectacular way to spend Canada Day, wouldn't you say?

Celebration at Lake O'Hara

How fortunate am I in the number of times I've had the privilege to hike and/or paint at Lake O'Hara? The area is rich with concentrated beauty and jewel coloured mountain lakes abound. My first visit was in 1982 and although it was a decade before my second trip, I have been so often since that I've lost track of the multi-night stays and day trips there. A common denominator is always sharing the good times with friends and family.

This past weekend was no exception. Laura originally arranged this trip as a coming together of her women in farewell. In August, she and Adam are moving to Libya. Since booking the Alpine Club of Canada's Elizabeth Parker Hut (for the night of June 26th) they became engaged. This then saw the event transformed to a stagette! Denise encouraged ladies to bring crazy dress-up clothes for the bride-to-be. This is how we (their aunt and I) found them on the Lake Oesa trail ...


The evening festivities were delightful. In the morning 14 women caught early buses out. That left just me and my girls to do a precious hike alone together. Here we are at Schaeffer Lake ...

... and at our destination. Lake McArthur is still frozen and there is tons of snow up there yet. But look, see just how beautiful it is! For more photos please click here:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=446488&id=715295437&l=13b5269747

It's been over a week since my last post and I must tell you that it could be as long or longer before I am able to get back here. On July 2nd, for two weeks, Laura and I will be in Montreal and Quebec City!

artsPeak

artsPeak is Canmore's annual art festival. This year, June 17-20, 2010, it showcased over 100 local and visiting artists at 30 venues! Both daughters had their creations in the artFair (street fair) which Laura coordinated. Laura has been making jewellery and participating for several years.

This year, Denise made her debut at it; she's been designing and sewing purses since January. For the most part the weather was very cooperative and it was exciting to see the response and sales both girls enjoyed.


Being as Main Street was closed to vehicular traffic little Avery got to run wild, and loved every minute of it.

With so much to stir your senses it was impossible to see it all. As it was I came away overstimulated and exhausted! For a complete photo essay, please click on this link:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=442655&id=715295437&l=ff08bcb3d4

Begun the other day, I finished these two paintings, today. Wishing to play a bit, I alternately sponged on paint and gesso, dragged and rubbed colour around to create their backgrounds. I worked on them simultaneously, letting each air dry between applications of thin, watery colour. Magnolias has a healthy dose of metallic, copper paint. They are acrylic and mixed media. Mixed media because I used rubber stamps for the flourishes and the delicate, lacy flower bits.


Magnolia 8" x 8"

Funky Flower 8" x 8"

These two pieces are my donations to Hanging Out Art (a clothes line art sale) happening on Saturday, in Canmore. They are unsigned because the identity of the artist isn't revealed until after you've made your purchase ... in essence making this post, a sneaky, sneak preview! All proceeds go to The Mountain Arts Foundation. ArtsPeak is a well rounded arts festival which kicks off tonight and runs through until Sunday, June 20th. For a look at what's on offer please click here:
http://www.artspeakcanmore.com/

Both of our daughters will be selling their craft, Saturday and Sunday, in the Art Fair on Main Street, which will be closed to vehicular traffic.

Denise Scammell, REVIVE ... http://s2.webstarts.com/revivehandmadecollections/
Laura Marshall Designs ...
http://www.lauramarshall.ca/

Lessons from Liz

Today, ten artists clustered around Liz Wiltzen in her Canmore studio. Over the course of her day long workshop she taught us how to set up EBay and Pay Pal accounts plus how to create a blog. Even though I've already got a blog up and running, there was much to be gleaned. I finally managed to get that little Feed Burner window up, which previously had eluded me.

Liz is not only a fine artist and a generous teacher she is my good friend. I invite you to see her website http://www.mountainartist.com/

Thanks, Liz!