This week ‘not’ in The Pearl – May 15, 2026


We are in Helsinki, it is 0751 Friday morning. We have already showered, dressed, went looking for AAA batteries for Tricia’s keyboard, and ate breakfast at our hotel. Yes, it is early for all that – the background music artist is singing an appropriate song, “In The Wee Small Hours of the Morning” – jet…

This week in The Pearl – May 1, 2026


Bon 1er Mai ! In France today it is La Fête du Muguet, the Festival of Lily of the Valley. It is also Labor Day in France and much of the world. The French tradition began when, in the 16th century, the French King Charles IX received a sprig of Lily of the Valley as…

TheTravelsketcher’s Tuesday – Another greeting card


Last week I showed an easy way to make a greeting card, I hope you give it a try. As promised, here is another card, almost as easy. I think most folks can do this one – just follow the steps. Here is the set up. Watercolors in Ultramarine blue and Sap green, a medium…

TheTravelsktcher’s Tuesday – Another easy way


Continuing with ideas for easy ways to capture the moments, consider an impressive, but equally intimidating place – Notre-Dame de Paris. Visualize that you are sitting in the Place de Jean Paul on a sunny day, the courtyard in front of Notre Dame. There is always a lot of activity, you ponder the church and…

This week in The Pearl – March 6, 2026


We had a wonderful weekend. Saturday we celebrated Alexis’ birthday by going for high tea at DOJA Tea Lounge in Tualatin. It is next to Tualitin Lake at The Commons. Tricia had the ‘Vegan’ – the rest of us carnivores had the ‘Citrus Menu’, though there was only a tiny bit of chicken on one…