Rainy Day in Georgia

by Kathy Garvey
Sadly, we are leaving Phillis and Georgia tomorrow. It's been a great retreat.

Yesterday we spent the morning on a large pontoon boat touring around Lake Oconee. Below is a view of one of the more spectacular houses around the lake.

We spent the afternoon painting and journaling. Below is Carmen catching up on her journal.

 Denette is painting a set up of fresh peppers from the market. Mary is uploading her photos.

 Below is a beautiful page from Phillis' journal. (The Pieces of 8 journaling was inspired by Diana Gessler.)

Since it was Halloween in a retirement community, we decided to stay in and watch "The Gods Must be Crazy" on You Tube. What an odd, fun, beautiful movie. At one point in the evening we were visited by Captain America, aka Phillis' husband Jerry!

 Today we toured houses, lunched on fried green tomatoes and buttermilk pie, painted, poured, journaled, ate some more, and packed our things.
Below, Carmen and Phillis are experimenting with poured acrylic painting. 

 Below, one of Carmen's newly poured pieces.

Goodbye, Georgia and Phillis!

Fun Day at Washington Grass Inn, Georgia

The Pieces of 8 dined and painted at the Washington Grass Inn in Georgia today. We had a whopping good time as was captured by our wonderful hostess Gloria Slaughter in the picture below. (You can learn more about Gloria's photography and wedding venues at http://www.gloriaslaughterphotography.com/.)

The grounds were fun to explore with cats, dogs, horses, barns, flowers, antiques, old buildings and unusual objects everywhere. It took us a while just to decide what to paint.

Below are a few pictures from the day. It was perfect!
This is Mary painting a watercolor.

 Denette and Phillis photographing all the neat things on the grounds.

 Cindy sketching in her journal.

 Carmen painting the barn.

 Phillis sketching in her journal.

If you want an affordable but really special lunch with soup, sandwich and dessert  - all created to perfection - and your anywhere near Greensboro, Georgia, gather up at least 6 people, get online to http://www.washingtongrassweddings.com/  and set up a date. We loved the place, the food, and Gloria.

Tomorrow we're boating on Lake Oconee! Hope the weather stays as perfect as it has been since we got here. We're loving Georgia!

Georgia on our Mind

Five of the Pieces of 8 are on our annual painting retreat. This year we are spending it near beautiful Greensboro, Georgia at the home of our former and now honorary member, Phillis Holland. Wow, is it gorgeous here! The weather has been sunny and breezy, the leaves are just starting to turn colors. We're surrounded by the amazing Lake Oconee.

Today we had the privilege to paint at the Ritz-Carlton. We arrived around 10 in the morning, spread out and all painted til lunch time. Then we spread out again and painted until we left at 4:00. The property is lovely and the staff superior. I can only imagine how much fun it would be to actually stay at the Ritz. Below are some pictures from the day. It was a great way to spend it.

This place is big!

 ..and beautiful

Cindy is just back from plein air painting in Italy so she had everything in her backpack and was set up in minutes!

 Mary disappeared from view and returned very shortly with a completed watercolor painted by the lake.

 Phillis started her journal.

 Another view of the lake

 They had some stunning late blooming azaleas that attracted the butterflies. (The many flowers - camelias, asters, pansies, roses and azaleas- gave me something to work with since I don't do landscapes.)

 Denette painting by the lake.

We are having an awesome time and only wish we could have Carol, Donna and Fay here to enjoy it with us.