Category Archives: Travel Adventures

Give Yourself Permission to have Gentle Habits

Here’s a mostly true story: Aaron (or “Double-A-Ron” as his friends called him) was a gentle soul lovingly referred to as the town drunk. His regular haunt was the Village Tap Tavern. Every day he would wander in about 4pm, … Continue reading

Posted in Beauty, Books I Love, Musings on Life, Trips to the UK, Watercolor | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Travel is my favorite path to Enlightenment

Mark Twain once said, “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.” I agree, and I love experiencing this truth firsthand as often as possible. Five years ago, I traveled to England to visit a friend I’d never met. Well, that’s … Continue reading

Posted in Beauty, Book #2: Double Take, Seeing and looking, sketching, Trips to the UK, Urban Sketching (On-Site Creativity), Watercolor | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

How to Double the Fun when Travel Sketching

(This is the next in the series of excerpts from my illustrated memoir, “Double Take.”) Planning a vacation? If you’re like me, the minute you buy your plane ticket or book your B&B, it feels like you’re almost on your … Continue reading

Posted in Book #2: Double Take, Pen & Ink, Seeing and looking, Sketchbooks, sketching, Travel Adventures, Trips to the UK, Urban Sketching (On-Site Creativity), Watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Episode 11/11…wherein I return home to 2020, and ponder next steps

I always experience a bit of emotional jet-lag at the end of a long trip, and this time is no different, despite having done all this travel sitting right here at my laptop in the living room. It was exhausting … Continue reading

Posted in 2022 Fake Journal - "My Wales Tale", Musings on Life, Sketchbooks, Watercolor | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Episode 10/11…wherein we explore all of Wales, in just one place

Sunday the 10th of April, 2022 Hard to believe that by the end of the day we will be at our final destination, a hotel near London’s Heathrow Airport. Along the way though, we will dawdle and wander and smile … Continue reading

Posted in 2022 Fake Journal - "My Wales Tale", Watercolor | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Episode 9/11…wherein the names of several places are hauntingly familiar

Saturday 9th April 2022 (a very sleepy girl is writing this!) Although we didn’t travel far today, only about 70 miles round trip and just a couple hours in the coach, it ended up being the longest day full of … Continue reading

Posted in 2022 Fake Journal - "My Wales Tale", Pen & Ink, Watercolor | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Episode 8/11…wherein I celebrate my love of rocks

Friday, April 8th, 2022 Does anyone else like playing “Map” as much as I do? When we were kids, Dad got us a copy of the Reader’s Digest Atlas of the World. It was the cheapest babysitter in history, keeping … Continue reading

Posted in 2022 Fake Journal - "My Wales Tale", Pen & Ink, Watercolor | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Episode 7/11…wherein I discover an old friend in a faraway land

Thursday afternoon, April 7th, 2022 “Bobbie, what a lovely surprise!” Michael motioned to the chair beside him. We chatted for a moment, then I noticed the other members of my group gathering at the café exit, preparing to begin the … Continue reading

Posted in 2022 Fake Journal - "My Wales Tale", Pen & Ink, Watercolor | Tagged , , , | 12 Comments

Episode 6/11…wherein it takes 2 episodes to capture this very full day!

Thursday morning, April 7th, 2022 Such a busy day today, it is hard to believe that a week ago right now I was in New Hampshire, in my apartment, so eager to finally get on a bus, to go to … Continue reading

Posted in 2022 Fake Journal - "My Wales Tale", Pen & Ink, Watercolor | Tagged , , , | 12 Comments

Episode 5/11…wherein learning and note-taking surpass, for once, the urge to sketch

Wednesday, April 6th, 2022- 10:45pm & still writing! Our last full day based at the Royal Oak Hotel in Betws-y-Coed I took notes throughout the day today, and am compiling them this evening in my bedroom as usual. The difference … Continue reading

Posted in 2022 Fake Journal - "My Wales Tale", 3- Magic: Art Epiphanies | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments