The Traitor's Wife: A Novel by Kathleen Kent

This is a prequel to The Heretic's Daughter, which I read in 2010 and reviewed here.  Set in 1673 New England, Martha Allen works as a servant in her cousin's household.   Thomas Carrier is a laborer for the family with a mysterious past.  I enjoyed this book, but I thought The Heretic's Daughter was even better.  I might have liked it more if I had read it first, although it was interesting to learn the history of Martha and Thomas.  I rated it 4 out of 5.

A Day in Books (meme)

My friend Kathy Johnson posted about her day in books (here), and I thought it was so much fun that I had to try it for myself.  All books are ones I read this year.

I began the day with Abundance.

On my way to work I saw The Falls

and walked by A Room With A View

to avoid The Fiction Class.

But I made sure to stop at Coventry.

In the office, my boss said, “Let the Great World Spin,”

and sent me to research The Curious Incident of the Dog in theNight-Time.

At lunch with The Traitor's Wife,

I noticed Enemy Women

under The Black Flower,

then went back to my desk, Radioactive.

Later, on the journey home, I bought Dinner at Antoine's
 

because I was Lost in the City.

Then settling down for the evening, I picked up The Book of Ruth

and studied The Shipping News

before saying goodnight to Lolita.

Radioactive: Marie and Pierre Curie by Lauren Redniss

This was a very unusual book.  When I first heard a review of it, I thought it was a graphic novel but it wasn't; at least not like the few (ok, make that two) graphic novels I've read before.  It looked more like a children's picture book, but it wasn't that either.  It was an artful biography of Marie and Pierre Curie.  I enjoyed the book for the most part, but found the jumps forward and backward in time to be somewhat disorienting.  It was interesting learning about the Curies.  I rated it 3 out of 5.

Backpack

This worked really well to carry everything comfortably all over NOLA for a week. The only drawback to a backpack is it's harder to get stuff out of it when you want to, but IMO the added comfort makes up for that.

Comfort

All I ever wear anymore is comfortable shoes, so even though we walked all over NOLA, my feet never hurt.

Sweet & Juicy

I don't buy oranges very often, even though I like them. I was out of orange peel in the freezer, so I bought a few oranges for the peels. But they've been very tasty too. And of course I had to sketch this one before I ate it.

Bagel

I did this for an exercise in Danny Gregory's book, The Creative License.

Special Purchases for NOLA

I bought a couple of items specifically for my Imaginary Trip Made Real to New Orleans, although I'll use both of them again. Note - the items are NOT to scale - the stool should be larger or the neck pouch should be smaller! LOL!

My Palette

This is in my NOLA Live journal, as it's the palette I took there. I want to document some of the supplies I took with me. And yes, my palette is usually this messy (or even messier!). The list of colors is on the facing page, which I've posted here.

The Artist on the Road - Impressions of Greece by Richard Sheppard

This is the author's first book, and it is delightful - I hope it's not his last.  It is a travel journal of his two-and-a-half-week journey through Greece, with his thoughts and drawings.  Since I hope to go to Greece someday, it is especially meaningful to me.  Combining this book with a guidebook should help me plan my trip, whenever that may occur.  I rate it 5 out of 5.

The Chosen by Chaim Potok

From Amazon reviews:

In 1940s Brooklyn, New York, an accident throws Reuven Malther and Danny Saunders together. Despite their differences (Reuven is a Modern Orthodox Jew with an intellectual, Zionist father; Danny is the brilliant son and rightful heir to a Hasidic rebbe), the young men form a deep, if unlikely, friendship. Together they negotiate adolescence, family conflicts, the crisis of faith engendered when Holocaust stories begin to emerge in the U.S., loss, love, and the journey to adulthood. The intellectual and spiritual clashes between fathers, between each son and his own father, and between the two young men, provide a unique backdrop for this exploration of fathers, sons, faith, loyalty, and, ultimately, the power of love.

I read this book for my book club.  I had actually read it many years ago (probably while I was in high school), and then my husband and I had listened to the audio version a couple of years ago while on a car trip.  I decided to read it again in order to be able to discuss it somewhat intelligently and I'm glad I did - I enjoyed it again and it was an interesting discussion.  I rate it 4 out of 5.

Germaine Cazenave Wells Mardi Gras Museum

I decided to focus in on the part of the costume that interested me the most - the wings or whatever they are on the shoulders. And that way I didn't have to draw the face (of the mannequin)! LOL!!

Beauregard Keyes House

This house was particularly interesting to me since I had read Dinner at Antoine's by Frances Parkinson Keyes shortly before going to New Orleans. And we really lucked out on the weather - the day started out looking like rain, but the sun came out just in time for us to sketch outside in the lovely garden.

Lunch at Commander's Palace

We had a fabulous lunch at Commander's Palace Restaurant - my favorite by far of all the great places we ate.

Breakfast Room

We stayed at Place d'Armes, which had a beautiful courtyard. On my free afternoon, I sketched this view of the door to the breakfast room.

Raw Art Journaling by Quinn McDonald

I worked through this book with one of my Yahoo groups, Artists of the Round Table. We did a section each week for ten weeks. It is a different kind of journaling than I normally do, but I enjoyed the process and will probably incorporate a few of the ideas from the book into my journaling practice over time. The author joined the group and led the workshop and she was very generous with her time. I rated the book 4 out of 5.

Keeping a Watercolor Sketchbook by Brenda Swenson

After working on Brenda Swenson's 75 Day Sketch Challenge for a couple of months, I realized that I had this book of hers sitting on my shelf, so I pulled it out to read it.  I really enjoyed all of her artwork in the book.  It has fairly basic information, so I can't say that I learned a lot of new things, but it was still a worthwhile read.  I rated it 4 out of 5.

Lafayette Cemetery

It might sound morbid, but I actually found our cemetery tour to be very interesting. I sketched this with a water soluble pen.

Oak Alley Plantation

We spent the second day of our Imaginary Trips Made Real at Oak Alley Plantation.

Cafe Du Monde

After our Mardi Gras World tour, we had lunch at Antoine's, a walking tour of the French Quarter in the afternoon, dinner at Mother's, and beignets at Cafe Du Monde.

Mardi Gras World Tour

For the first full day of our Imaginary Trips Made Real, we toured Mardi Gras World in the morning.

Breakfast at The Decadence Shoppe

We had breakfast at The Decadence Shoppe the first 2 mornings I was in New Orleans (I went a couple of days early).

First Days in New Orleans

I went to New Orleans with 8 other artists for Laure Ferlita's first Imaginary Trips Made Real and had a fabulous time! I started sketching on the plane on my way there and continued to sketch every day I was there. There was so much to see and do that we didn't always have enough time to sketch as much we wanted, but I don't know what I would eliminate in order to have more sketching time. Thanks Laure for a great trip!

Bradford Pear

This is probably our most colorful tree and I always enjoy looking at it, so today I sketched it. It was a fairly warm afternoon sitting in the sun.

Very New Orleans by Diana Hollingsworth Gessler

This is an absolutely charming little book - part guide book, part sketchbook, filled with delightful illustrations on every page.  It was a great read in preparation for my trip to New Orleans.  I rate it 5 out of 5.

Dinner at Antoine's by Frances Parkinson Keyes

This is one of the books I read in preparation for my trip to New Orleans last week.  Antoine's is the oldest restaurant in New Orleans, and the opening scene of the novel is set there.  It was originally published in 1948, so the writing style is very different from today, and so are the customs that are described.  It is a murder mystery, and while I don't read many mysteries, I enjoyed this book for the glimpse into life in New Orleans.  I rate it 3 out of 5.

Imaginary Trip to New Orleans - Gichi Ziibi (Mississippi River)

I'm taking another Imaginary Trip to New Orleans with Laure Ferlita. It's a great warm up for NOLA Live - Laure's first Imaginary Trip Made Real.

Imaginary Trip to New Orleans - Street Performer

I'm taking another Imaginary Trip to New Orleans with Laure Ferlita. It's a great warm up for NOLA Live - Laure's first Imaginary Trip Made Real.

Imaginary Trip to New Orleans - Hidden Gems

I'm taking another Imaginary Trip to New Orleans with Laure Ferlita. It's a great warm up for NOLA Live - Laure's first Imaginary Trip Made Real.

Imaginary Trip to New Orleans - Slave Exchange

I'm taking another Imaginary Trip to New Orleans with Laure Ferlita. It's a great warm up for NOLA Live - Laure's first Imaginary Trip Made Real.

Imaginary Trip to New Orleans - St. Elizabeth's

I'm taking another Imaginary Trip to New Orleans with Laure Ferlita. It's a great warm up for NOLA Live - Laure's first Imaginary Trip Made Real.

Imaginary Trip to New Orleans - Food

I'm taking another Imaginary Trip to New Orleans with Laure Ferlita. It's a great warm up for NOLA Live - Laure's first Imaginary Trip Made Real.

Imaginary Trip to New Orleans - Wrought Iron

I'm taking another Imaginary Trip to New Orleans with Laure Ferlita. It's a great warm up for NOLA Live - Laure's first Imaginary Trip Made Real.

Imaginary Trip to New Orleans - Bourbon Street

I'm taking another Imaginary Trip to New Orleans with Laure Ferlita. It's a great warm up for NOLA Live - Laure's first Imaginary Trip Made Real.

Imaginary Trip to New Orleans - Shutters

I'm taking another Imaginary Trip to New Orleans with Laure Ferlita. It's a great warm up for NOLA Live - Laure's first Imaginary Trip Made Real.

Imaginary Trip to New Orleans - St. Charles Trolley

I'm back - taking another imaginary trip with Laure Ferlita. It's a great warm up for NOLA Live - Laure's first Imaginary Trip Made Real.
I'm leaving in a little while for New Orleans on Laure Ferlita's first "Imaginary Trip Made Real" and I'm so excited I can hardly wait. I've always wanted to go to New Orleans, and ever since I took my first imaginary trip with Laure I've wanted to meet her in person. So I'm doing both, and I'll be spending a week with a few other artists I've met in Laure's classes - it should be a great week.

75 Day Sketch Challenge - Day 75

I finished the challenge. Not a very exciting sketch for my final one of the challenge, but that's the way it goes sometimes. I intend to continue sketching almost every day because it's been so helpful.

75 Day Sketch Challenge - Day 74

For Brenda Swenson's 75 Day Sketch Challenge - drawing in pen and ink only every day for 75 days. The challenge can be seen here. Just one more day!!

75 Day Sketch Challenge - Day 73

For Brenda Swenson's 75 Day Sketch Challenge - drawing in pen and ink only every day for 75 days. The challenge can be seen here.

75 Day Sketch Challenge - Day 72

For Brenda Swenson's 75 Day Sketch Challenge - drawing in pen and ink only every day for 75 days. The challenge can be seen here.

75 Day Sketch Challenge - Day 71

I sketched the gourd in pen and then added watercolor instead of shading with pen. I did use pencil for the title and writing, but I figure that doesn't matter, since the gourd was straight to pen. I'm almost through with the challenge - it's been really good for me. I hope to continue to draw almost every day even after the challenge is over.

75 Day Sketch Challenge - Day 70

For Brenda Swenson's 75 Day Sketch Challenge - drawing in pen and ink only every day for 75 days. The challenge can be seen here.

75 Day Sketch Challenge - Day 68

For Brenda Swenson's 75 Day Sketch Challenge - drawing in pen and ink only every day for 75 days. The challenge can be seen here.

75 Day Sketch Challenge - Day 67

I took the opportunity to draw an onion, since I rarely buy them - my DH is allergic to them. For Brenda Swenson's 75 Day Sketch Challenge - drawing in pen and ink only every day for 75 days. The challenge can be seen here.

75 Day Sketch Challenge - Day 65

For Brenda Swenson's 75 Day Sketch Challenge - drawing in pen and ink only every day for 75 days. The challenge can be seen here.

75 Day Sketch Challenge - Day 64

For Brenda Swenson's 75 Day Sketch Challenge - drawing in pen and ink only every day for 75 days. The challenge can be seen here.

75 Day Sketch Challenge - Day 63

This is the fireplace in our cabin at Devil's Den State Park, Arkansas. I actually drew this on day 62, but since I drew other things too, and I missed day 63 (the first day I've missed since I began the challenge), I'm counting it for day 63.

75 Day Sketch Challenge - Day 60

We spent a few days at Devil's Den State Park in Arkansas where we met some friends who moved to Little Rock last year. This is the fireplace in our friends' cabin. I did this for the Sketchbook Challenge's current month's theme of View. Also for Brenda Swenson's 75 Day Sketch Challenge - drawing in pen and ink only every day for 75 days. The challenge can be seen here.

Sketching & Watercolor in a Mixed Media Journal / 75 Day Sketch Challenge

Another online class with Jane LaFazio.

Class Lesson 1 and Challenge Day 56 & 57

Sewing room tools.  This is the first time I've sketched in a journal this large (9 X 12), allowing for the addition of several items to a page.  Also for Brenda Swenson's 75 Day Sketch Challenge - drawing in pen and ink only every day for 75 days.  The challenge can be seen here.

Class Lesson 2 and Challenge Day 61 & 62

Some of the acorns and colorful leaves I picked up around our cabin and on our hikes at Devil's Den State Park, Arkansas.  Also for Brenda Swenson's 75 Day Sketch Challenge - drawing in pen and ink only every day for 75 days.  The challenge can be seen here.

75 Day Sketch Challenge - Days 36 - 58

Catch-up post with most of my sketches for the challenge.

Day 36

Day 38 & 39

Day 40

Day 43 & 44

Day 46 & 47

Day 50

Day 51

Day 53

Day 58