Val's Art Studio: Nourished...

She Listens To Her Heart, art journal page 8-8-11,

created from watercolor crayons, stamps and chalk inks

We have been away for the last week, to Steamboat, CO. Oh my golly, it has to be one of the most beautiful places on this beautiful planet! The glory God has created there spoke to my very soul... sitting, spending time gazing, horseback riding, color loving, land loving, water appreciating (San Diego is actually a desert, and we just don't see the abundant streams, lakes and rivers like Steamboat has). It was a place to recharge and allow my soul to wander and play! Ahhh, what a gift being there was....

I managed to take my sketch book, and a traveling box of art supplies. This sweet girl painting poured out of me after one such restful and beautiful day.... did I mention how happy my soul was there?!

We spent the week with Greg's family. His mom is getting up in years,... 85. She has been wanting to see her CA grandsons, and they have wanted to see her, and their CO cousins and family as well. We stayed at a wonderful Ranch retreat, called Dutch Creek Guest Ranch, 45 minutes outside of Steamboat.

Here's Greg's mom, happy as a clam with all her menfolk around her... Hey, Granny can still shoot like the best of them!! (kidding, but she strikes a great pose!)

We all got into the act (especially me!), after donning a new pair of cowboy boots! (Sad they are cut off in the photo...) Greg's brother is a real cowboy, and owns all these guns... yikes!

We rode horses on beautiful trails. The wildflowers are in full, glorious bloom... apparently the winder snows and spring rains have made the flowers more gorgeous than ever this year.

We haven't seen our nephew in many years, and were amazed at how grown up he is... how does that happen like that?! He and cousin after our pack ride...