Votive Ships, a Blue Bear, Danish Furniture, & Summertime in general...

One of my favorite things about Denmark is their amazing Votive Ships. You can google "Danish Church Ships" or "Danish Votive Ships" to see photographs of some. Two can be seen in the United States: one, at the Brooklyn Seaman's Church in New York City and another in Annapolis at the Naval Academy Chapel. This summer I've been sketching ideas for drawings to work on during the upcoming winter. One idea is a triptych featuring 3 different Danish themes. A votive ship against a Gothic lead-glass window is one of those ideas.

My son auditioned for American Idol in Denver this summer. While there with him, I enjoyed time at the Colorado Convention Center, new Denver Art Museum, and best of all, I found an amazing Danish Furniture business. I spent hours in there, had a great time, and really fell for an amazing piece of furniture: made from teakwood, and hand oil-rubbed, was an amazing secretary desk that was a work of perfection. Built by a Copenhagen family business that goes back to the 1800's, but expensive at $3600, still, I enjoyed sitting at it, lifting it's rolling top, observing and feeling the intricate compartments inside, and rubbing it's smooth side panels. What a great place to hang out. If in Denver, The Copenhagen Furniture Store is on West Colfax, just west of Wadsworth, not far from the Denver Bronco's Invesco Field at Mile High.

A few years ago my son, then young, and I were in New York City. It was Memorial Day. We stumbled upon St. John the Divine Cathedral, the 2nd largest Gothic Cathedral in the World. The New York Philharmonic was performing a free concert there that night. I became an instant fan of both St. Johns (this stone edifice is amazing, it's still a work in progress on New York's Upper West Side) as well as the Philharmonic. In recent summers, the NY Philharmonic has been coming to Vail, Colorado. Again this summer I made the trip to Vail and enjoyed a reprise of one of their New York concerts in Central Park just the week before. Baritone Nathan Gunn was the featured guest. He sang from Aaron Copeland's "American Songs" works as well as an encore selection from Camelot. As always, the concert was held at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater, adjacent to the world's highest alpine botanical garden, the Betty Ford Alpine Botanical Garden. Both places are personal favorites!

I've ran some fun races this summer, taken in a few local parades with beautiful floats,with my son, gathered/cut/chopped/stacked firewood for the upcoming winter (a favorite summer tradition of mine), and after teaching summer school, have enjoyed working in our yard and my Danish Garden. I have the most amazing melons from Israel growing. This is the 1st year that I have had raspberries plants produce as well. I hope to get enough to make homemade Frozen Custard Ice Cream with them this fall. "Leon's Frozen Custard" in Milwaukee makes the best Raspberry Frozen Custard. I hope to replicate it.

Finally, I just returned from a short, but enjoyable camping trip in the mountains. And I've enjoyed some great books this summer, sitting on my Adirondack chair under a shade tree covered with soon-to-ripe red Jonathan apples, or in my white Carolina rocker in the greenhouse, I've enjoyed reading three new-to-me David Baldacci's books. I seldom take time to read fiction, but this has been a nice reprieve. Before the regular school year begins soon, I have a few more "summer things" on my "To-Do" list,including getting in some fishing, but for the most part, I've enjoyed this wetter-than-usual summer thus far.
Be well, do good...