Drew at the National

I just received these photos from a friend who was sitting ringside at the National last week. It was fun to see them. Thank you Tammy!

Dawn painting at the National in Oconomowoc

A friend just send me this photo. Thank you Susan!

We are considering putting this painting into print. The three dogs featured are Jewel (top), Monet (bottom left) and Drew (middle right).

Would love to have ideas for a title for this piece!

Winterset, Iowa: Birthplace of John Wayne

To our surprise, this little town where we ventured to photograph bridges is also the birthplace of the legendary actor, John Wayne.

The locals told us the fame of the town is all around John Wayne. The town is tiny - a stone throw from one end to another. It is a beautiful place. We have had so much fun exploring here!

Check back tomorrow and hopefully I'll have the bridge photos up. Next, we are headed to Dodge City, Kansas. We want to get some western photos for my 2011 ISCA National painting.

Madison County Iowa - Good Morning

Drew at sunrise - Winterset, Iowa

Monet at sunrise.

We woke this morning to day break. Guess our internal time clocks are all off. The morning sun was cresting the beautiful fields of Iowa. Monet and Drew stood in the window looking out. These photos can not relay the beauty we saw this Wednesday morning.

Last night, before bed, we took the dogs out for one more walk. They all did big business. We bagged the poop and searched the small hotel for a trash can. The only can we found was right outside the front door of the lobby. When Rich went down to checkout this morning he walked in the lobby to overhear the manager talking with another party. The manager said, "You'll never believe what I found in the trash can...it was a bag of sh**". "Then I opened another bag and dang it if it wasn't another bag of sh**". "Now...who would sh** in a bag?" Rich was in hysterics. Guess they don't use bags to pick up dog poop around those parts.

Monet spit up this morning... hum....could she have morning sickness??!!

Bridges of Madison County

Rich and Jewel outside one of the covered bridges of Madison County.
Rich and Drew walking into a covered bridge. Isn't the countryside beautiful? Iowa - America's Heartland.

Rich and Drew posing outside one of the bridges of Madison County.

Big kisses from Dawn to Monet.

Dawn and Monet enjoying the landscape and the beautiful sound of song birds in the surrounding trees.

We made a special trip to photograph the bridges of Madison County, Iowa. This is the location for the movie featuring Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep of the same name "The Bridges of Madison County". Rich and I have to watch the movie again to see if we recognize anything from the quaint town of Winterset!

We pondered over why bridges were covered? Was it to keep ice off the bridge for horse carriages? When photographing one of the bridges there was a narrative inside the bridge that gave us the answer. The large wooden beams that make up the flooring of the bridge are very valuable. So much so that the bridges were covered to protect the floor boards. The cost of the covering was less than the cost of the flooring. Now is that not interesting?

Madison County Iowa

Well....we have headed to Madison County Iowa to photograph covered bridges after leaving Woodbury.

When we travel cross country we try to go to new places to add reference photos to my library. Many of these photos are used at some point in my paintings.

Here are the dogs in the hotel....ready for dinner.

Woodbury, Minnesota....again

Here is Dad with Monet, me with Drew and Jane with Jewel (who she offered to keep!!). Notice Drew looking at Dad. He kept wanting to give Dad hugs and it was such a crack up.

After leaving Elk River we went back to my parents home in Woodbury. Nothing like a home cooked meal opposed to the sodium laden artificial nightmares we've been consuming for the past week and a half.

This is a view of their back yard with no rain. More photos to follow once we download them from the camera. Check back!

Elk River Photos

John and Victoria's Dogs: Dakota, Zoe and Loki on the floor. When John and Victoria used to live in Chino Hills we would take Loki and Bailey Boy on walks together. I sure miss those days.

Rich and Drew....on the sofa....what kind of house guests are we????

Victoria, Rich and John on the patio enjoying Strawberry Margaritas.....remind me why we left there!

These are some candid shots of us in Elk River. John and Victoria were such awesome hosts. We have to live down Jewel stealing part of the dinner before it was served.......will she ever behave? No.

Elk River - Victoria Painting

Isn't Victoria wonderful. Victoria is the person who introduced me to pastels. She is such a fabulous artist and my inspiration every day.

Elk River - raining but still fun!

Although it was raining, we sure hated to leave. If only we could have stayed a few more days. Why the heck is Rich smiling????

Jewel has the red collar, Monet the orange and Drew the blue. Thanks for the photos Victoria. Hum.... I had to omit the hiney one....

Elk River - Hunting with a view

Jewel (red collar) and Drew had a blast hunting from the comfort of Victoria's living room!

Elk River, Minnesota

Here we are at our friends', John and Victoria, home in Elk River, Minnesota. They live on three acres in a heavily wooded area.

It was pure heaven to be here. The dogs haven't had a yard to run in since June 3, 2010. The three were running around and hunting and playing.

It was so awesome to be here in real life. John and Victoria visit us frequently when they are in California for Victoria's art exhibits. However, we've never had the pleasure to visit their home.

Hope you enjoy the pictures of our 'Hunters"!

Woodbury, Minnesota Day 7

Well, after the National we headed towards Minnesota "don't cha know" to see family. It was a beautiful drive across Wisconsin and I added many barn and farm scenes to my reference library.

Unfortunately, I can't show the pictures of my father's backyard yet as the photos are still in the camera. His yard backs up to a small lake and an abundance of wild life. Until recently, Rich and I thought Jewel and Drew were our big hunters in the household. Until today that is. We took all three dogs on a walk around the lake and Monet discovered her hunting instinct. I have to tell you what an amazing transformation she has gone through and so quickly. Monet was on constant point and absolutely lost interest in all else - except food of course. Monet is absolutely bonkers about hunting. She is driven with a newly found passion for sure.

We walked her several times down the lake nature trail trying to get her to do her "business". She was unable to take the time to do so. All she could do was scent, look and point.

Back at the house, she found she couldn't hold it any longer and decided to take the opportunity to do her business when she was not hunting. This opportune location happened to be the white carpeting in my father and step mother's pristine home. And boy did she have to go. I scooped up the damage with toilet paper and flushed it away. The volume of it backed up the toilet temporarily (adding insult to an already embarrassing situation). In good spirits my parents laughed. My stepmother, Jane, suggested perhaps Monet had her accident because she was pregnant.....yes....absolutely....that has to be the reason......ha ha ha ha.

Here is a photo of my father and Jewel. I'll post more photos when we download them from the camera. Their backyard and surrounding landscape is amazing.

Next title for Monet you ask???--- we are going to have to go after her JH ( after the puppies are born of course!! Hoping she is pregnant of course!!!) Tomorrow we head for Elk River, Minnesota.

Oconomowoc, Wisconsin Day 6

We are at the final day of the 2010 ISCA Specialty. This day is always bittersweet. The week has long days with the set up / tear down of the booth contents daily and functions in the evenings. However, no matter how tired we are we hate to see it come to an end.

The weather held out and we were not hit by rain. The bag pipes this morning took my breath away as usual. My grandfather was Irish and I only wish he could be here at the show while all this is going on.

Here is a candid shot of me in my art booth. Not sure who took the second photo = but thank you for doing so!

Oconomowoc, Wisconsin...Day 5

Today started out looking fabulous weather wise. We had a brief sprinkle from Mother Nature and then things became really warm and muggy. The "girls" showed today and it was incredible how many beautiful Irish Setters were running by our booth.

Attached is a photo of Drew from the show yesterday. Thank you to everyone for their kind comments about him. He really is a dream dog.

Our dogs are settling into their hotel routine. It is incredible how quickly the week is passing. I haven't had an opportunity to check email - it is going to be crazy once I get to it.

We attended a pig roast to close the day. We are excited....feet hurt - body aches but had good art sales. Off to bed -