A whirlwind with a couple of calm breaks


We left San Diego and our California family and headed to Portland, Oregon. It has been a whirlwind, mostly. Our first stop was Newberg, OR, with our daughter and son-in-law, Alexis. We had lunch with my son and daughter-in-law, visited my other son in Vancouver. We stayed with friends in Portland, then back to Newberg…

A week in Washington


We arrived in Seattle just a week ago. The first few nights we spent in downtown Seattle to adjust to the jet lag and do a little shopping. Here are a couple sketches from Seattle. A few France inspired sketches: Our hosts have wonderfully decorated their home, with an abundance of poinsettias. I did this…

Downtown Seattle after two years in France


We arrived at SeaTac on a direct Delta flight from Charles De Gaul Paris on Friday afternoon, our first time back in the US in almost two years. We stayed downtown for a few days to do a bit of shopping and adjust to jet lag rather than imposing our groggy bodies on friends and…

A Varied Journey


Sketching captures my thoughts and experiences then saves them for later reflection while enhancing the moment itself. Though I do have journals, it is clear that the traditional practice of faithfully recording the day’s events eludes me. Random thoughts get recorded, a memorable meal or person, yet spontaneous rather than intentional. Perusing my sketches over…

The Oldest Home in the UK


In Derbyshire, on the banks of the Trent River, stands a limestone Anchorite cave church. Archaeologist Edmund Simons said: “Our findings demonstrate that this odd little rock-cut building in Derbyshire is more likely from the 9th century than from the 18th century as everyone had originally thought. This makes it probably the oldest intact domestic…