Some family stories just stick with you no matter how young you were when they happened. One such story in my family involves camping…which we did a lot of while I was growing up. The story I refer to involves when we switched from tent camping to a trailer. I don’t recall the year but I was young…maybe 6 or so so it had to be the late 1960’s and my mom, brother, sister, an aunt and uncle went to Fort Clinch State Park in Fernandina Beach FL and set up our campsites. It was a Friday and my dad had to work and was coming down to meet us after work. Just before he was to arrive a terrible storm blew in….seems like it may have been a small hurricane or at least that is how the story goes….and there was my mom holding on to my young sister as well as a tent pole while Brother held a pole and so did I. We were practically flapping in the wind! It passed quickly but not before the tent was gone….except for the three poles we were holding. About that time my dad rolls in on his motorcycle (which he had rode through the storm) and my mother greets him by putting us kids in the station wagon and driving all the way home. I don’t ever remember seeing her that mad ever again. That is the week we bought a camper and upgraded our camping experience. It seems like something was said like “if you want to camp it is not going to happen in a tent ever again!” The view you see in this photos is the very campsite where the incident occurred. I was small but I remember it well. It’s been fun coming back to the park to see what has changed and what is exactly the same!
Thanks so much for the kind birthday wishes. My friend, Sandy Patterson, took a new photo of me and Lincoln to mark the occasion. If you have a minute, help me celebrate by 
The kids painted their version of Monet’s Water Lilies yesterday. They did an amazing job….and they are just 5 years old. Amazing work!
We just had two young painters yesterday for camp but we got so much accomplished. They learned about Degas as they painted his Rider in a Red Coat. And they did a great job. Nice work little artists!
It’s time to vote in the Best of Warren County survey. And everyone can vote…you don’t have to live in Front Royal to vote….and you don’t have to vote in every category. Just scroll down to the ones you know and want to help. 
I was recently commissioned by my brother-in-law to paint a pet portrait of his best friend’s Cavalier that they had just lost. His name was Toby and he was a very successful show dog for several years. In his retirement he kept his “dad” company. I was told that the recipients loved the painting…and then I got this text …the kind of message that makes me love the work I do:
We will be creating a new Stacked Garden Pole design at The Studio on Sunday, August 9th at 1 pm. Everyone can choose their own theme and colors. Mine, of course, is an art theme. But we have many designs to choose…..cats, bones, frogs, flowers, etc. Or you may choose to put a little birdhouse or birdbath on top. These are beautiful. Space is limited so 
Our final session of Animals on Safari had us painting Lions! Beautiful lions!!!
The Studio 