Assateague National Seashore National Park

I've never been to this national seashore, but it's on my list to someday visit. I imagine a 4th of July long weekend walking these beaches, witnessing wild ponies, admiring the lighthouses, eating seafood. This is Tom's Cove and is replicated from the National Park website. This is a bookmark size painting laminated, and is my 'window' view from where I sit to work so that I may remember that life isn't all work. Painted in watercolor.

A trip to the Oregon and California border at the beach

This month I graduated from college with my bachelor's degree. I decided not to walk during my graduation because I had attended online 100% of my entire education. Instead, I wanted to take a camping trip to celebrate. My choice was to the California Redwoods initially, but settled on Harris Beach State Park at the southern Oregon border with California right at the beach. On the way down, we stopped at the Oregon Vortex. This place was definitely strange and I highly recommend it. Below is a photo of my daughter and I inside the House of Mystery.

I reserved a yurt (9 months in advance!) for us to sleep in. I figured having this over a tent would be a lot more fun, and I'm glad we did.

Harris Beach State Park is right on the beach, so we were able to hike down easily to enjoy the ocean. The issue I do have with Oregon State Parks is it's not really camping. You are essentially sleeping in a big parking lot that has a lot of trees and a lot of people. These campsites fill up very fast, which is why I had to reserve this yurt exactly 9 months in advance-the soonest a reservation was made available.

We also stopped at the Trees of Mystery, a roadside attraction that allows visitors to walk along a trail of giant trees, and ride the Sky Trail. My daughter and I rode this and it was worth the wait.

Of course we had to drive through Jedidiah National Forest to see the Redwoods with a stop at Smith River.

When it came time to go home, we took the scenic 101 up the coast. One of our stops was at the Oregon Dunes and Coquille Lighthouse. 

Although not far from home, it was one of the best vacations I have taken with my family. This area of the west coast is one of the most beautiful.

Reyna shawl in Yellowstone

When the yarn designer/creator Knitted Wit came out with a National Park series, I was all over that. I had to have the Yellowstone colorway, and would find a compatible pattern. I finally decided on a the Reyna pattern because I'm a beginner with shawls. This turned out to be one of my favorites, and I see myself wearing this frequently!

Mountain Bluebird in watercolor

I have never seen one of these birds as they dwell more in the Mountain states, but they sure do look sweet. I picked this out of the National Audobon society book for North American birds. Watercolor in my bird journal (paper).

John Day Fossil Beds National Monument

It is my opinion that we focus too much on National Parks but not enough on National Monuments. These are places where there might be historical significance where National Parks are protected scenic areas. Well, if this isn't a scenic area, I don't know what is. The John Day Fossil Beds lie in Central Oregon, and it's a place I would like to witness for myself. These hills are incredibly alive with color and life from another time! Oregon is an amazing place, we shouldn't just be known for forests and rain. These is part of my Oregon landscape series in watercolor.

Tuscan Sunset Ride in gouache

Tuscany Italy is a dream to visit. The wine, the sunflowers, the colors, and romance are all very tantalizing to my soul. I've tried to capture that feeling in this painting. Usually the cyrpress tree is more predominant in images of this region, but I felt the willow tree-a symbol of balance and harmony-was a more fitting icon. Riding a bike through these hills would feel refreshing and peaceful, but I didn't include the wine on this bike ride. After a glass or two, I don't think I could pedal back home. This picture of paradise was painted in gouache on canvas board.

 

Yaquina Head Lighthouse in watercolor

From the Oregon landscape series, this is one of many lighthouses along the Oregon coast. This is the tallest of all Oregon lighthouses and is quite close to the funky town of Newport (I recommend seeing this gem of a town!). Is this lighthouse haunted? I wish I could find out for myself personally. Sketched in ink and painted in watercolor on 100% cotton paper.