Catching Up With Summer

Dave and me

How can it be the last day of summer already??? What a wonderful summer it was, too.
The weather was incredible. Only a few of those hot, humid "dog days," and literally weeks of perfection... 70's and low 80's, breezy, sunny and dry. This was MY kind of summer, for sure!

I didn't blog for months, so here's a "once over lightly" of summer 2014. 

I've been working on a few freelance illustration jobs. Sadly, I can't show them until they're published, so no pictures yet... but they've been fun to work on.

In the meantime, four wonderful students graduated from the RISD children's book certificate program this June. I'm such a proud mama hen. (Our fourth graduate, Clare, was on a plane to England, and couldn't attend.)

Bob with his family.

Sarita with her husband and mom-in-law

Marcela and Sarita bookended by two of our very fine instructors, Emilie Boon and Judith Moffatt.

I taught a summer class at RISD, with 10 talented students. It was 6 weeks, 2 days a week... a whirlwind class that I always enjoy.

Dave built a patio for our tiny back yard, and we ate dinners outside in the garden all summer. Our pear tree, which was old when we moved in 24 years ago, had it's best year ever. We estimated that it had about 300 pears, and they were delicious. Dave made his famous pear pies, and cooked them in our NEW oven!!!

One of Dave's pear pies!

Dave enjoying the view on the other side of Beavertail Point.

We took a few day trips, one to the island of Jamestown. Always a beautiful place to visit, we especially enjoy Beavertail, with the lighthouse, and a little cove over in Fort Weatherhill.

An idyllic view of Castle Hill from Fort Weatherhill

The spectacular rocks of Beavertail, on the island of Jamestown in RI.

My friend Judy celebrated her birthday in style, as Queen Judith with her court of ladies-in-waiting.  Tea, talk, great food and great weather... a wonderful day for a special friend.

The library in downtown Westerly

Dave and I took another day trip to Westerly, a town in the southwestern corner of RI, right before you cross into Stonington, CT.  Westerly's border on the north and west is the winding Pawcatuck River. The town is historic, and stately homes grace tree-lined State Street. To the south are beaches... East beach, Misquamiquit, Westerly town beach, and some shore-type food and shopping. There is also Watch Hill, filled with gorgeous shingled homes with manicured gardens.

Just one of the spectacular seaside  homes in Watch Hill, Westerly RI.

My ageless mom, and my brothers, John and Andy.

We also had a great family get-together in August. My niece, Cassie, had a party to celebrate graduating from high school. (wasn't she a baby just last year???)

We had several outings with Phil and his girlfriend Jess, and her 5-year old son Conner.

We celebrated my mother's birthday... last I heard she was 65.
;  )





Of course, there was much more... pool parties at Dot's and Linda's, dinners with Jeff and Mel, many repairs to the house done by Dave... FAN meetings...

It was a great summer. Have a great fall!

My lovely niece.

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A Visit with Mom

It's a long drive to visit my mom, but I make sure to do it at least a few times every year. It's wonderful to stay at her farm, sit on the porch swing, and just hang out!

We had an extra treat this year. A lifelong friend flew up from Florida for her 40th high school reunion and stayed with Mom, too.  My son and husband came along, and we got to see my niece perform with a cast of talented school children in Newark United Methodist's church camp "Music Factory." We also enjoyed a great chicken dinner at my brother's Meeting House.

It was a visit I'll remember fondly.

Judy Heck Lowry and my  mom

Geese

An alpaca from "Alpaca Fields." Love the way he eats!

My brother and his wife. Could these tomatoes look any fresher?

It was a treat to gather with most of my family, as well as our family friend, Judy.

The coat id's this Biblical favorite.

My niece played Eve.

My mom's favorite tenant, who calls her "Early." It's a mutual love affair with these two!

July in Rhode Island, 2013

It's been strange weather this summer. Hot, hot, hot for weeks, then cool and rainy. Still, it's been lots of fun with teaching a summer class at RISD, working on a book dummy, doing a job for Cobblestone Magazine, and enjoying lots of social events.

A pool party at my friend Linda's with our writer's group was great. The highlight for me was picking sweet blueberries from her extensive garden with these enthusiastic folks. 

I also enjoyed a trip to Pawtuxet Village with my hubby on a spectacular summer day. Pawtuxet is best known for it's early revolutionary fervor, when two boatloads of men captured the crew and burned the Gaspee in 1772, a ship sent by King George III to enforce British trade laws.

I love the water views, with marinas and New England houses, and you can find fantastic scenes like this all along Rhode Island's coasts. Of course we stopped for ice cream at Dear Hearts Ice Cream Parlor, and gave thanks that no revolutions were brewing in Rhode Island that day.

Coming into the Village.

Looking west from the same bridge... what a difference.

Looking east from the bridge in Pawtuxet Village.

Another fine day trip took us to Portsmouth, Tiverton and Little Compton.  We took a spin around the coves in northeast Portsmouth, Island Park, Long Neck, Old Orchard and Blue Bill, and past the remnants of the long-gone Stone Bridge. We crossed the new bridge (the one that is causing controversy because of tolls). The views along Route 77 south are spectacular, and the drives along back roads in Little Compton were bucolic, in the full flush of summer.

 

A view of Gould Island from Park Ave. in Portsmouth.

We also enjoyed a trip to Bristol, one of our favorite stops in Rhode Island. I was fascinated by the precariousness of this waterside foundation. 

in Bristol, RI

This week was inspiring, as I met with artist friends and soaked in the talent of the folks around me. Not only did I meet with my artist's group, Freelance Artist's Network at a member's lovely home in Falmouth, but I also attended a tea party with artist friends in Medway. I saw oil paintings, jewelry, illustrations, licensing art, acrylic abstract paintings, pastel and ink sketches, greeting cards, and so much more. I always come away from these meetings re-invigorated. (I was also able to get valuable feedback on the book dummy I've been working on.)

Freelance Artist's Network (thanks for the photo, Judy)

Dale, me, Kay Life, Ruth F., Ruth L. and Judy (our fine hostess)

And one more trip to Bristol for dinner with my brother and sister-in-law on a perfect summer evening. Dinner by the water, and a stroll along the waterfront walkway and park looking across Bristol Harbor to Poppasquash Point.

The harbor in Bristol, Rhode Island

A beautiful sunset in RI

And last (for July), but not least... the sunset at Oakland Beach while we enjoyed Iggy's clam cakes and chowder!

The view after enjoying clam chowder at Iggy's.

 Summer passes quickly, and July is almost done. I'm glad I was able to enjoy friends and students and creative work and my beautiful surroundings during this fleeting time. I am blessed.

Life is Sweet

Illustration Friday # 28: SWEET, RISD CE graduation, and chickadees

Life is Sweet  ©Cheryl Kirk Noll

You can see the passage of time... here the snowbell flowers are budding.

Spring is my favorite time of year. Classes finish up. Students graduate. Flowers bloom and babies hatch.

This year has been particularly productive for my garden. A cute little birdhouse that my dad gave us at least ten years ago has it's first tenants this year.

The flowers have blossomed. Breath in the fragrance!

A black-capped chickadee couple made Songbird Hollow their home. The birdhouse hangs from a styrax obessia (Fragrant snowbell tree) right outside our back window, so we were thrilled to watch the pair nest-building. On Tuesday, I heard the babies peeping for the first time when their parents arrived with food. Within two weeks, they should be flying away.

It's a life-affirming process to watch.

After the 4 day heat wave, the snowbells are gone, but roses are out!

My job as the adviser for the Children's Book Illustration certificate program at RISD-ce is a thrill for me too. I often meet students when they start the program, and I always have them for at least one class, meet with them for the final portfolio critique, and have the honor of handing out their certificates.

 I'm thankful to my brilliant program coordinator, Francoise McAree, to the CE staff, and to the fine teachers in the program who have led these students along the way.

I'm so proud of this year's 11 graduates. I'm as proud as a mama chickadee, and I can't wait to see where they fly, now that they've left the nest.

l-r sitting: Roya Ma, teacher assistant Susan Novich, Sherry Brodeur, Sarah Luz, l-r standing: Laura Foltz, Jeanette Bradley, Instructor Judith Moffatt, Mary Jackson, Emily Laramee, Meg Sodano, Peter Sentkowski, Anne Wert (missing: Karen Sculos)

To see more about the graduating students and the program, go to the programs informal blog,  Drawing Together .

A Trip South

Snow outside a Cracker Barrel in North Carolina.

Last week I logged in 3,072 miles on a one-week road trip. My husband drove every mile of it. We picked up my mom in PA, and hightailed it down to sunny Florida. On the way, we went through unusually cold southern weather, including SNOW in North Carolina.

 We enjoyed a quick lunch outside of Jacksonville, Florida with my dad's cousin, Helen, and two of her sons, Bill and Tom. We also enjoyed the homemade cookies Tom baked and brought.

Dave and Cheryl, Shirley, Tom, Bill and Helen Poje

Then we hurried to see a sunset at Anna Maria Island, where my parents had wintered for fifteen years.

Ahhhhhhh. 6:24 sunset (before 5:30 at home), aqua water, 64 degrees.

We headed off for Rotten Ralph's, a funky joint on a marina with great clam chowder, where the beer if always free (tomorrow).

Alas, it was gone. Gonzo!  :  (

Dave and Mom in the glow of a sunset at Leffis Key.

The rest of the week included a sunset walk at Leffis Key, where fish were literally jumping out of the water...


... and a walk at Robinson's Preserve in Bradenton. (It was built in 2008, with bike and walking paths, a viewing tower, boardwalks through mangroves, kayak and canoe launches. It's a great addition to the area.

Mom enjoying the view from below.

Dave enjoyed a few rounds of golf, and Mom and I enjoyed a few rounds of shopping. We also went to Historic Spanish Point (more about that later). And, of course, another sunset at Anna Maria, followed by dinner at the Anna Maria Oyster Bar, which, oddly enough, has 3 locations, none of them on Anna Maria. It has a bit of Rotten Ralph's vibe... paper towels on hangers for napkins, and a sign on the wall:

"No Mothers In Law.  
No Trouble Makers. 
 No Loose Women.  
No Drunks." 

Fortunately, then let my mother in, anyway! 

A fun detail on the viewing tower.

Shirley, Dave, Cheryl, Jim and Jo Heck

After a delightful dinner at the Crab Shack with our friends, the Hecks, they whisked Mom away for another week in sunny Florida, and Dave drove a thousand miles while I finished Lauren Oliver's YA novel, "Before I Fall," which I loved. I also read (and recommend) Barbara O'Connor's young middle grade book, "The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester," and a YA called "Fly Girl" by Sherri L. Smith.

It was a great trip, AND I'm happy to home.