Laurelines

Heartbroken

Our precious daughter Kate lost her baby the day before Thanksgiving, a week before his scheduled birth. During a routine antenatal visit, the doctor discovered he was no longer alive. After delivery, we were able to see him and hold him. He was stunningly beautiful and perfect.

In my daughter's words:

"Theodore Mulhollan died some time in the last few days from a cord accident. The surgery was easy and we are spending time with him saying goodbyes. Thanks for your kind words and prayers."

My one solace is in seeing the tremendous courage and grace with which my daughter and her husband are dealing with their sadness and their great loss.

Copenhagen sketches, part one

I'll be eking these out in smallish doses... only because, as was predestined to be the case, the life we returned to has been busy to the nth degree!

Copenhagen was the perfect choice for a short, celebratory trip. It's not too large, and it's not too small. It's pretty and lively. The food---and  I'm sorry to be the one to break this to you, France-- is the best in the world now. There's a whole new and brilliant way of thinking about food and preparing and presenting it in the Nordic countries these days and we were lucky enough to be able to experience a tiny bit of it while we were there.

And though I always say this, there really IS more to come. It was indeed a short trip, but it was a sketched one.

I made this sketch on the grounds of Rosenborg Castle on our last day. It was the most tranquil time of our visit. Copenhagen is not the countryside, though one could be forgiven for thinking it is, while seated on a bench in the Rosenborg gardens.

I asked the bartender at the Nimb Hotel where this was sketched, what was the meaning of the mural featuring women and birds. 'Something to do with the history of Denmark,' said he. Oh, really? Wasn't that helpful.

A gorgeous covered food hall opened in Copenhagen this past winter. It's called Torvehallerne and I couldn't wait to see it. We went, we saw, we ate, and I sketched. Bicycles and good food... this is Copenhagen.

Copenhagen, here I come!

Off to Copenhagen tomorrow for a few days to celebrate twenty years of happy marriage! Can't wait to sketch that jazzy, beautiful city! 

With that, the holidays, and the arrival of a new baby in our family very, very SOON, I'm going to be a bit intermittent here at Laurelines. 

See you in a few days, though, with glimpses of Copenhagen!

 

Fall, on the periphery

Since last we spoke, I've had to turn my attention to the kind of thing for which girding one's loins is necessary. No worries, I give it my all and then I can let it go, knowing I can't control the outcome.

On the periphery, art goes on. There's something so reassuring about examining the periphery and finding yourself still there, don't you find ?