T’was just like yesterday when I close my eyes. I can see the brilliant sun warming to 
alpine lake beaches and granite, the giggles as we attempted to sketch standing under fragrant evergreens or devouring the crazy decadent and luscious peach cobbler. Did I mention we had a new chef, Bear, that was devoted to the energy of the food? Gave thanks when it was delivered, allowed no cussing while working and knew healing qualities of foods! It was so remarkable – the whole magical and unplanned serendipity of it!
Sparkling blue skies visited us each day with the exception of a thunderous errupting of a storm
welcoming us our very first evening.
And the creative dance – oh YES! We traveled from 
realism to self-abstraction and experimental processes. Words were discussed and portrayed in poetry AND, in images. Could you guess what my sketch is suggesting? We invented our very own stamp images and carved them. Time intensive process but you can see the happy results!
And most magical always for me, is the weaving together of the women in shared ideas, varying points of view, artistic suggestions and 
assistance, garnering insight and understanding, diving into the joy and pain of being human … and eventually … growing new friendships. All these subtle gifts that can never be planned nor controlled.
This “Women’s Alpine Celebration” really was just that – a celebration of nature’s reverence, creative explosions, daily surprises and our shared humanity as women.
Many thanks to all of you who took part. You gave me the beautiful recharge for continuing these retreats at Lake Alpine (as I was 
feeling doubtful after health challenges and feeling no inspiration 
at times). So, with new vigor Jean Warren and I have already planned the 2018 retreat and encourage you to consider joining us next year between August 5-16. Honest, you won’t want to miss it if the elements I’ve mentioned interest you!
Namaste’
E
In the midst of winter’s gray chill, Jean and I get to fly off to memories of previous Lake Alpine retreats, and in our mind’s eye, begin to concoct the makings of the upcoming 2016 “Alpine Art Retreat: Celebrating Women’s Painting & Journaling”. Or it may have the subtitle “Women Celebrating Painting & Journaling” … you see, it’s still in the planning!
of more energy, with campgrounds still open and summer music sometimes permeating the weekend air, there will be “more wildflowers” (to quote one of our potential participants)!!! We also hope this date change will open the retreat to those who can only attend during the summer – like you teachers or campus career women or all you students on vacation (don’t miss our “Emerging Artist” Scholarship possibility)!!!
Shaking up the makings of the agenda will subtract some processes and add lots more potential. We want creatives to feel they may come focusing on water media painting skills only – or – come loving only to journal. And the other option is: COME DO THEM BOTH!!! Jean will lean more towards exploring abstraction and feeling nature’s design while Elaine will encourage experimentation and dive deeper into intuition. But we are not set in stone . . . and imaginings still swirl.
Visual Art Journaling 