An honored visitor to the studio, Fruit Tart

Yesterday was a mad dash around the studio to clean it up for an honored guest. I quickly discoverd how to clean a studio in about 15 minutes. I took large garbage bags, starting at the front door, thowing everything in the bags, tying them up and shoving them in the closet. It was the fastest studio clean up job I've ever done. The great thing about it is that I know where everything is. I just have to empty out the bags and put all the stuff back on the work tables. I asked my Mom to assemble a nice tray of cheeses and fruits, and I got a pot of coffee ready to start, changing into a decent blouse as I ran around. Got the front deck swept off too, just in time.


My visitor was someone whom I have admired for many years. It was thrilling to have her come all the way out from the city. Mrs Giovanna Holbrook is one of the most fascinating people I've had the privilege to know. She has traveled in 132 countries around the world. She owns apartments in several countries and founded and supports a conservation education center in Costa Rica. HERE

She has invited me to come and do an artist residency at the center and I want to go this fall in late October, after my daughters wedding on the 11th.

We talked about many interesting places she has traveled and I lived vicariously through her experiences. She has incouraged me to travel and so I will go.

She came out to see paintings but mainly to purchase Mail Art. She is intrigued by my Mail Art and wants to send to to her own friends. She bought 24 Mail Art pieces and so I was delighted. You never know when a kindness you do will come back to your aide. If you all remember, I sent Mail Art for Christmas this year, and she received one.

When I was an emerging painter years ago, Mrs Holbrook bought one of my paintings. In those days I was a nobody
( I still am :>) but she believed in me and I've never forgotten her kindness to me. Her words of praise yesterday meant so much to me. She is a truely remarkable woman.

Now I have to get the studio back together so I can get back to painting.



Last night's gouache study

4x6 inches



Todays Recipe:

Easy Fruit Tart

1 pie pan
1 ready made pie crust baked.

one jar lemon curd or you can use ready made pudding or puddng in a box.

1/2 cup fresh blueberries
1/2 cup fresh strawberries sliced
1/4 fresh pineapple sliced.

Put lemon curd in the baked pie crust. Arrange fresh fruit on top

Make a simple syrup with 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup water.

use a pastry brush to glaze syrup over fruit.

You can add whipped cream if you like.