A teaspoon of beauty

I turned over my calendar today to see a sketch I did at Preston Farms and Winery last year. Pumpkins and other harvest goodies on a country porch. And I wondered if I will have the opportunity this month to enjoy the countryside with my sketchbook in hand.

This October finds us staying home with the air purifiers going. But one can always find a teaspoon of beauty elixir to treat the doldrums, and sunflowers are particularly effective.

The flowers themselves, on the dining room table, have long since died, but I saved the sketch for this smokey day when it could provide balm.

If you’d like to see the pumpkins from last October, check out this post. 

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Preston Farm and Winery

The Ready, Set, Sketchers had a meet up at Preston Farm and Winery on Saturday. It was a perfect day to drive out in to (wine) country in Sonoma County. Some of the sketchers situated themselves in the garden by the house and others outside the chicken coop. Some managed to fit in time for some wine tasting. (I was tempted but knew it would be hard to go back to sketching afterward!) And I found a rather peaceful spot by the country “store”. I can never resist the colorful pumpkins and gourds!

It also turned out to be precisely the place where people come for the photo ops. Bring your 2 year-old grandchild named Andrew. Plunk him down in front of the display, and put a bright orange pumpkin between his legs, and then make all kinds of ridiculous sounds to get his attention as you take the picture that will immediately go out on social media to the rest of the adoring clan.

There were lots of Andrews and Annas getting their pictures taken, calling back my memories of taking our little Andy and Ben to the country to experience the delights of pumpkins and autumn bounty!

And there was the friendly gray cat who refused to pose for me, but occasionally tried to jump up in my lap.

The Ready, Set Sketchers meet up on the second Saturday of every month at a different location in Sonoma County. If that sound good to you, you will find the announcements on their/our Facebook page. Or contact me and I’ll get you on the email notification list!