Girls Weekend on Lake Pepin

A couple of weeks ago I got to go on a girls weekend on Lake Pepin in southern Minnesota!Girls weekends are so needed! We cooked, shopped, talked, drank coffee, shared secrets, watched chick flicks....and relaxed.
What a great weekend! I feel so blessed to work with such amazing girls... here's a peek into the fun from our view on Lake Pepin! I am loving all these fall colors! What are you doing to get out there and enjoy fall?
Maybe you need a girls (or guys) weekend with your friends!?

Camping in the Coon Cove!

Making breakfast with my boys!

Cooking breakfast!

A couple of weekends ago my husband and I went on our first EVER camping trip together. It's hard to believe it was our first time camping because we've talked about going since we got married... three years ago! What a blast we had.... not sure why we've waited so long to go! Camping is just so much fun! 

I have so many fond memories of summer camping trips in my parents pop-up camper! My parents liked to camp at the Minnesota state parks. As a kid I remember earning their Junior Park Naturalist patches/badges. To earn the patch you had to observe, draw, write (fill out little books) attend the naturalist programs, they were really fun for me (DORK ALERT! I know!) By doing that I really learned to appreciate nature. My parents and grandparents loved camping, and wildlife I remember my grandma & grandpa identifying birds, and loving to see deer and other camp critters!

My favorite meal we made - breakfast burritos! YUMO!

Let's just say tent camp is a little different than camping in a pop-up camper! We have a very small tent that JUST fit me, hubby and the golden. The bummer was we had raccoons at our campsite all night, sniffing, scratching, talking, hissing. So needless to say, we didn't get much sleep!

We joked all weekend with our friends that our site was the coon cove and on the second night while making dinner at their campsite (which was across the road from us) we could hear the coons cooing us over! Our site was very wooded - so beware if you head to Sibley state park - campsite #130! You'll be living in the coon cove!!

Despite the raccoons dampering our sleep we sure did have fun, hiking, cooking, having campfires, laying out at the beach, fishing, boating and hanging out with our friends. The weather was perfect... we couldn't have asked for better weather! We only went for a weekend... it was way too short! It really gave me the itch to camp more, and of course now I really want that pop-up camper! I always have wanted one, but even more so now! What's so fun about camping is that their are so many different places you can go & see!

One of the many critters that visited our camp site!

Sunset hike up to Mount Tom!

Hanging out on the lake fishing & exploring!

Flowers on our hike!

Where's your favorite place to camp? I'd love to know! I hope we can plan at least one more camping weekend before the summer disappears!

Nat

The Cabin - CAPTURED!

 

Where has the summer gone? Somehow July is almost over! These pictures were taken over the Forth of July up north near Itasca State Park and at my in-laws cabin. Such a beautiful place. With only 3 short months of summer I treasure every weekend I get to sneak away to Duluth or the north woods - thought I would share with you a few of my favorites! 

Fishing on the lake as the sunset, doesn't get any better!

There is beauty everywhere... even the old Evinrude, and boat with moss growing on the side is perfect to me!


























I typically wake up early before anyone else... go on walks, take pictures, paint and finding stunning little masterpieces like this one! WOW!

The call of the loon is just so beautiful, growing up going camping this sound is like the most soothing sound to my ears - magic I tell ya! The colors on these birds are just stunning! I took a million photos of loons - I think I know what my next painting will be!

 Where do you go to get inspired this time of year?

Winter at the cabin

We had a weekend away and although it was a very short weekend, the views were inspiring and revitalizing. I think nature has a way of doing that. I'm not sure how you could look be surrounded by this kind of beauty and not relax a little more and have that beauty seep into your spirit and soul.

We visited Itasca State Park, where we drove around and explored... saw about 20 deer. We went right at sunset so it was perfect.We took the snowmobile for a couple of rides, cooked and just relaxed...winter at our cabin is winter camping! No water and outhouse!

I hope some of these shots will inspire some new paintings!

How do you you stay inspired in the winter?

Buddy watching his dad take off on the snowmobile!

One of grandpa's 
MANY bird houses!

Get outside even in the winter!

You never know what beautiful things out in nature you might find!

Nat

Instagram Takes Over

My year so far has been amazing... 
I CAN NOT believe I haven't had blogged ONE TIME!
So Bad! I think my followers (if I have any left) think I fell off the face of the planet!

I LOVE, LOVE, photography and I really feel like Instagram has changed my blogging habits. I got a smart phone at the end of last year and it's not really convenient to blog on a phone and I typically just don't pull out my computer at night! I miss this space though! It's not going anywhere!
I'm back! I'm back!


So since I was too busy Instagraming....I thought I'd share with you a few of my favorite Instagram pics that I've taken this year!! 

We opened the year with relaxation, family, and lots of snuggling up by the fire. We bought a load of firewood which  was something we have wanted to so since we owned our house. I just love it. It's romantic, and soothing, relaxing.

Here's my best friend... keeping me company on the bed (so bad I know) He typically doesn't even like to jump up on the bed anymore he's 7 now! I can't believe we've had him for 3 years now this February!

The best dog I've ever had!
Nick name: Sweet Sweet

In the winter we send a lot of time at the dog park! It's happy hour for the dogs and the people. 
 I can walk of my work day and, get some fresh air AND get some nature in, while buddy gets a ton of exercise! It's a win win for us both!

This was a spontaneous big one for us! We bought a new car. It's green, and it's a little mini SUV thing, and I love it. It's my first ever brand new car!

Room for dogs, future kids and all my art supplies! I'm happy.

My moms friend got sick with the flu so
I by chance got invited to Priscilla at the Orpheum Theatre. 

So funny! Beautiful costumes!
SO INSPIRING! 

My husband and I went to Ike's for breakfast in downtown Minneapolis.
One of my goals for 2013 is to try lots of new restaurants!
YEA!
Most amazing Bloody Mary Ever!
Delish!

One night my mom and spontaneously stopped at the Eastman Nature Center and saw this big guy from the glass windows inside the Nature Center!

My paintings are up for 3 months at the local Dunn Brothers in Maple Grove!
I am over the moon phyced and excited!!
I am in charge of a new program at the Maple Grove At Center called The Business of Art... this program gets art into local businesses!!

Another amazing
sunset at the 
dog park!

My word for the year is CREATE. Even though I'm an artist and graphic designer my goal is make time to do something CREATIVE every day! Maybe it's sketching, blogging, painting. Something creative!

I painted a canvas Valentine's Day banner!





Working on lots of new canvases!

Ice fishing with my dad on Bass Lake!

Capturing the beauty on Bass Lake...
While we were out on the lake it snowed a couple of beautiful white fluffy inches!
This really inspired me!

Adding Luscious layers to my canvases!

Really loving this canvas! 
So dreamy!

What's your favorite thing to Instagram!?!?

Oh ya... did I mention you can follow me on Instagram at: Cre8tiveQueenNat