I had a fantastic overnight getaway at my sister's new farm outside of town. My best friend and I drove out, and Marian and her best friend were there along with Jethro, Marian's patient husband. We hung out, caught up, laughed, told stories, talked about books, talked about our lives, ate yellow curry, and took a sunset walk. It was so, so perfect. I am grateful for the people around me in this wild and precious life.

Friday morning everyone did their own thing for a while, and my thing was to walk to the tiny, private, Victorian era cemetery on the property. I had done one sketch previously and have been dying to spend more time drawing it. I didn't want to miss too much of the party, so I kept it to one sketch, but I loved sitting out in the woods in the morning light and drawing old tombstones. I love a cemetery. I'm really looking forward to being featured at an Artist Coversation at Elmwood Cemetery. I've drawn in a ton of cemeteries, and I'm sure we'll talk about more than that (Willy Bearden is a fantastic host), but I'm excited to put a slide show together and tell some of my favorite stories.

Later that morning all four of us women sat by the lake and watched a flock of migrating swallows swooping and diving over us. It was sheer delight. I did a super quick sketch because I wanted to have that moment in my sketchbook to remind me in years to come. I'm so glad that a simple overnight can give such a beautiful getaway from life and grateful for all the strong, wise, funny women I get to do life with in one way or another.